Basic FASTPASS Info

To board an attraction at the Disneyland Resort, you may use the standby line to wait your turn. Or, you may use a FASTPASS line to shorten your wait time.

In order to enter that FASTPASS line, you must have a FASTPASS.

There are two kinds of FASTPASSES to choose from:

Digital FASTPASSES (Classic FASTPASS) – these are available to every park guest for free

MaxPass FASTPASSES – these are available to every park guest for $15/day per person

Regardless of which option you choose, the basic idea of FASTPASSES is this: A FASTPASS will allow you to avoid the standby line, which is always much longer than the FASTPASS line. You won’t jump ahead to the front and ride immediately, but your wait time will be cut down significantly. Depending on the attraction, a standby line can vary from 5 minutes to 2 or more hours. FASTPASS lines typically take between 5 and 10 minutes.

Before you choose which system is best for you, let’s cover some FASTPASS details that apply to both systems.

FASTPASS Attractions at the Disneyland Resort

The following attractions include FASTPASSES. Most FASTPASS distribution machines are located near each attraction, with a few exceptions. I’ve noted those, below.

Disneyland

Fantasmic! (distributed across from the Golden Horseshoe Saloon) – disconnected

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

Haunted Mansion

“it’s a small world” (distributed next to Matterhorn)

Indiana Jones Adventure

Matterhorn

Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin

Space Mountain (all the way down near the entrance, to the right)

Splash Mountain

Star Tours (distributed in the same distribution location as Buzz Lightyear – pay attention to which machine you’re using to ensure you get the right FASTPASSES)

California Adventure

World of Color (distributed to the right of Ariel’s Undersea Adventure) – disconnected

Incredicoaster

Goofy’s Sky School

Grizzly River Run

Radiator Springs Racers (distributed near Ramone’s just off the main path through Cars Land, to your right)

Soarin’ Around the World

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!

Toy Story Midway Mania

***What does ‘disconnected’ mean? If a FASTPASS is disconnected, you are permitted to grab any other FASTPASS while holding the one that is disconnected. Only Fantasmic! and World of Color are disconnected.

How FASTPASSES Work

Here are some frequently asked questions about the FASTPASS system.

What is a FASTPASS? This is a pass given to you that will allow you to return to certain attractions and “skip” part of the line, shortening your wait time. If you do not use a FASTPASS for an attraction, you will enter the “standby” line.

Is a FASTPASS selected using MaxPass different from a Digital FASTPASS that I pulled from the distribution machine? Only in how it’s delivered to you. All FASTPASSES are pulled from the same pool of FASTPASSES. They’re all the same FASTPASS – just delivered to you in the way you choose.

Do I need an app for Digital FASTPASS? What about MaxPass? You only need the app for MaxPass. Find it here.

When can I pull my next FASTPASS? The FASTPASS you pull – or MaxPass you select – will indicate the time you can pull your next FASTPASS. (More on this here.)

How long does a FASTPASS line take? Most often, it will only take around 5-10 minutes to board the attraction if you’re using a FASTPASS.

Can I save my FASTPASS for the next day if I didn’t use it? No. FASTPASSES are only good for the day of issue.

How much do FASTPASSES cost? Nothing! Digital FASTPASSES are included in the cost of your ticket. MaxPass costs $15/day per person. (But, it includes more than FASTPASSES – read below.)

Where do I find these FASTPASS distribution machines? Most distribution points are located near the entrance of the attraction. I’ve shared a few exceptions, above, where the FASTPASSES for each park are listed.

Are FASTPASSES distributed during Extra Magic Hour/Magic Morning? Most often at Disneyland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are open for EMH/MM and all FASTPASS attractions in those lands should be available. DCA typically has the entire park open with all FASTPASSES available there, too. (None of this is guaranteed and is subject to change.)

FASTPASS Details for Both Digital FASTPASS and MaxPass

Little ones (ages 2 and under) do not need a FASTPASS for attractions since they were not granted a ticket upon entry to the parks. (They wouldn’t have a ticket to insert for a FASTPASS, nor would they have one to register on the app.)

FASTPASSES are available on a first-come, first-served basis and they do run out. Start your day early and utilize these passes as often as possible.

Here’s the scoop, guys: Disney doesn’t want you to stand in line. If you are standing in line, you are working against the positive park experience Disney strives for. So, through MaxPass or Digital FASTPASS, you have options to stay out of line as long as possible.

The most common attractions from both parks that run out of FASTPASSES are Space Mountain, Star Tours, Splash Mountain, Soarin’, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! and Radiator Springs’ Racers.

FASTPASSES are not accepted AFTER the time frame on your ticket. You may scan your FASTPASS to enter the attraction up to 5 minutes prior to your return time.

Multiple Experiences FASTPASSES

When you aren’t able to use a FASTPASS within its time frame (due to the attraction being temporarily closed), a Multiple Attractions FASTPASS will be loaded into your app. A cast member does not have to scan it into your app. It will load automatically for any attraction you are holding a FASTPASS for that doesn’t open during its time frame. This works for both MaxPass and Digital (Classic) FASTPASSES.

Multiple Attraction FASTPASSES are good for any time of the day, but expire at park closing. They may only be used within the park they’re issued. Click on the Multiple Experiences FASTPASS on your app to see which attractions are eligible. Most often, this includes all FASTPASS attractions for the park you’re in, but there are occasionally exceptions.

Note: Many guests using the Digital (Classic) FASTPASS system miss Multiple Experience FASTPASSES because they don’t know to look on the Disneyland app for them. If your theme park tickets are attached to the Disneyland app – and the attraction you’re holding a FASTPASS for closes during your FASTPASS return window, check the app for your Multiple Experience FASTPASSES. MaxPass is not needed for this.

Visit this link to learn how to attach your theme park tickets to the app. It’s free!

How to Know When You Can Pull Your Next FASTPASS

The more you understand FASTPASSES, the more successful your visit will be. Please keep in mind the following rules that debunk many popular FASTPASS myths:

There is no 2 hour rule between FASTPASSES.

You may hold more than one FASTPASS at a time.

You do not have to complete the attraction you’re holding your current FASTPASS for in order to pull your next one.

To know when you can pull your next FASTPASS (physically at the machines or via MaxPass), find this one simple sentence on any FASTPASS you choose. It’s included on every MaxPass confirmation on the app and it’s printed on every paper FASTPASS Reminder that the machines distribute when you pull your FASTPASS.

In the image below, that sentence circled in lime green tells you when you can grab your next FASTPASS. Some guests set an alarm on their phone to remind them of this time. I do that often. Just be sure your alarm isn’t going to go off in the middle of a quiet attraction like Pirates of the Caribbean! You don’t want to be that guest.

As soon as that time arrives, you are eligible to pull your next FASTPASS. Focusing on these times will ensure you make the most of your day.

(Please pay no attention to my manicure in this image. I do my nails in the carpool lane.)

Note – There is one exception to this rule. You may not choose a FASTPASS for an attraction you already hold a FASTPASS for. You must ride that attraction with your FASTPASS in order to choose another.

Digital FASTPASS (Classic FASTPASS) vs MaxPass – How They Compare

Here is a basic comparison:

You can choose Digital FASTPASS, which is the free, old school FASTPASS system we have known for years, but only recently is attached digitally to our theme park tickets.

-Or-

You can choose MaxPass, which costs $15/day per person, but includes unlimited selections of FASTPASSES from both parks via your mobile device PLUS PhotoPass privileges. That covers any photos you take throughout the entire Disneyland Resort, character meal images, ride photos and more.

I have detailed each below so that you can decide which is best for your visit.

How to Use MaxPass

MaxPass works within the Disneyland app and allows you to grab a FASTPASS electronically for an attraction, rather than walking across the park to do it. The cost will be $15 per guest, per day.

Simply put, you will select your FASTPASSES on your app throughout the day and then walk to attractions when your return window arrives. You’ll scan your device at least once to enter the attraction. Some attractions require you to scan it twice.

You will be able to add guests onto one app to manage everyone, however, each guest will be required to pay the $15 to use it. With the $15 per day purchase, each guest will receive unlimited PhotoPass privileges, too, including attraction photos.

Wifi is now available in the parks for free, but it’s spotty and still developing. Consider a data package if you think you might need it. MaxPass requires you to use your app.

You may purchase MaxPass prior to arriving, as long as you purchase it as an add-on during the initial purchase of your ticket online at Disneyland.com, at the box office, at Guest Services Desks at Resort Hotels, or at Disney Desks in Good Neighbor Hotels.

If you purchase tickets from a discounted seller like Get Away Today, no problem. Just have your theme park tickets added to the Disneyland app prior to going through the gates. I explain how to do this, below. Purchasing MaxPass this way takes literally seconds.

You must enter one of the two Disneyland Resort Parks in order to “activate” or purchase your Maxpass. You may not select a FASTPASS prior to entering the park.

You may select a FASTPASS from DCA if you’re standing in Disneyland or vice versa. You only have to have entered one park to become eligible to do so.

To select FASTPASSES for others in your party (meaning, people you add to your app for MaxPass), each of those guests has to have entered the park. Your party can be 2 or 10 or more people – totally up to you.

You will build a “party” with those people – all of the people you want included in a FASTPASS selection. It’s easy to do. See photos below.

After you build your “party”, your party may select an attraction to pull a FASTPASS for. Because you built your party, the app will apply the chosen FASTPASS for the attraction to everyone listed in your party.

When it comes time to redeem your FASTPASS – or board the attraction – each person in your party must scan his or her barcode. One person can do this for everyone. Because your “party” is built on one app, it’s easy to slide through each person in the party, redeeming each as entered into the desired attraction.

At any time, you may redeem the FASTPASS that you selected via MaxPass with your theme park ticket. The barcode on your ticket is the same that is added to the app. So, if the person holding the mobile device chooses not to go on the attraction and wants to keep his or her mobile device, anyone or everyone else in the party can simply use their theme park ticket to redeem. Redeeming on the app isn’t an absolute. Some people like to conserve their phone battery by having people use their theme park tickets to redeem FASTPASSES.

You may cancel a FASTPASS within the MaxPass portion of your app at any time. This can happen for one person in your party or all.

If you have several people in your party, you can all select your own FASTPASSES. You don’t have to all choose the same attractions. For any FASTPASS selection on MaxPass, you will always start by “building your party”. Add only those guests who want to enjoy the attraction you’re selecting a FASTPASS for.

You cannot stack MaxPass and Digital FASTPASS expecting to “beat the system”. Again, that barcode is connected to you. So, if you already have a FASTPASS selected with MaxPass and try to go use your annual pass or theme park ticket to pull a FASTPASS at one of the physical FASTPASS kiosks, you will get rejected. The systems work together.

Your app will automatically adjust its brightness when you go to scan your code when it’s time to board an attraction. No need to drain your battery by keeping it at the highest level at all times. (This is so voodoo magical when you see it.)

If an attraction breaks down and you are granted a “Multiple Attractions FASTPASS” or “readmission”, your app will automatically store that info as you depart the attraction. A cast member will not have to add that to your app. More on this in this post, above.

Fantasmic! and World of Color FASTPASSES will remain on paper. You may not use MaxPass to select FASTPASSES for either show.

MaxPass can be added onto Annual Passes for $100 for the duration of your pass. It is free for Signature Plus pass holders. To add the $100 upgrade, guests will need to visit the ticket booths between the two parks. The $100 is NOT prorated for the remainder of your annual pass duration, so those guests with just a month or two before renewing might consider waiting to add it on.

DAS will continue to work as is and works separately from MaxPass.

PhotoPass with MaxPass

Along with the ability to select FASTPASSES from your app, you’ll receive unlimited digital downloads of all PhotoPass images during the day you purchase MaxPass. This includes character photos, attraction photos, castle photos……and any others you take with a PhotoPass photographer from around the resort. For only $15!

To find the PhotoPass portion on your app, scroll down below the “See All Plans” portion. You will have 45 days from the day you visited to download your photos, just like PhotoPass.

If you want to purchase MaxPass and only use the PhotoPass portion of it, that’s totally fine. Everyone in your group can use the same PhotoPass account. Spend $15 a day and get all the images I mention above. There is no limit to how many people can share that one PhotoPass privilege. Just scan all of your images into the device that purchased MaxPass. So, technically, a group of 12 people could enjoy the perks of PhotoPass by having one person purchase MaxPass for only $15.

Visit this link for how to add your images to the Disneyland app if you purchased MaxPass.

Visit this link for all about character meal images if you purchased MaxPass.

Visit this link for all about attraction images if you purchased MaxPass.

How to Link Your Park Ticket or Annual Pass to the App

Log into the app with your sign in information from your account at Disneyland.com.

Click on the icon at the bottom of the screen. For me, it’s Snow White, as you can see here:

This screen will appear. Click on “My Tickets”.

When you do, this page will appear. You can add your tickets by clicking the “+” in the top right hand corner. As you can see my daughter’s ticket is linked here. And, if I scrolled to the right where that small purple line is, you would see another family’s member’s ticket. Add as many as you like.

Once you click that “+”, you’ll see this at the top of your screen:

Click on “Link Tickets & Passes” and you’ll find this screen where you can scan the barcode on your ticket or annual pass or enter the number manually.

How to Buy MaxPass

First, be sure you have your ticket or annual pass linked to the Disneyland app. I share how to do that just above this part of the post.

Since you now have your tickets loaded onto your app, scan them to enter the park through the turn stiles. This will confirm that you have entered the park and can now buy, activate and use Maxpass. Yay!

Once you scan your tickets, this next image will pop up, asking you if you want to purchase the product.

If you choose to “get started”, you’ll walk through the few steps that it takes to purchase the product. Since you signed in with your Disneyland.com account – which has a credit card on file already – it literally takes seconds to purchase MaxPass. You can do this for you and all of the other ticket holders that you added to your device.

Step 3 – Select Your FASTPASS via MaxPass

Step 4 – Redeem Your FASTPASS via MaxPass

When it’s time to board the attraction, you’ll click on “Redeem” and then scan the barcode for each guest in your party.

At this point, every guest’s barcode must be scanned to enter the attraction. This can all be done via the device the party was built on, but each person must be scanned. Flip through the “party” quickly and scan each barcode before boarding the attraction. There are MaxPass machines at every attraction that you will scan at.

(If you do not want to use your device for scanning at the time of redemption, everyone in your party may use his or her theme park ticket. Again, the barcode that lives on your ticket lives on the app. It’s all the same.)

For example, Disneyland Daily was one of 2 in this party (notice “1 of 2” in this image). We found her and scanned her barcode…….and then went on to Jamie to scan hers.

For each FASTPASS you select via MaxPass, you’ll be given a time to pull your next FASTPASS. Take advantage of that and use as many FASTPASSES as you can throughout your day.

Don’t want to worry about your ticket or annual pass since we finally arrived in the digital world? Use can use only the app. Just be sure to bring at least one backup battery for your device. Or, buy a Fuel Rod and live like royalty. I love these convenient little chargers. Find out all about them and where to find them at Disneyland in this post.

Digital FASTPASS (or “Classic” FASTPASS)

Digital FASTPASS started June 21, 2017 and I was there at opening to figure it out.

Watch this video, below, that shows me pulling a FASTPASS from the distribution machine, scanning it upon entering the attraction, scanning it again, and then boarding the attraction.

How to Use Digital FASTPASS

To pull a FASTPASS, enter your theme park ticket or annual pass in the FASTPASS machine near the attraction you want to go on. A “Reminder” pass will be issued to you.

When it’s time to board your attraction, scan your theme park ticket or annual pass. The paper “Reminder” pass is just that – a reminder. You may not scan the Reminder to board the attraction. Your FASTPASS now lives on your theme park ticket or annual pass.

You’ll scan your ticket two times in some lines.

Some notes:

If you are wanting to use the FASTPASS system, this is your only option now. The old system where you pull a FASTPASS and then scan that to enter the attraction does not work anymore. Every guest will now use Digital FASTPASS.

You do not need to use a mobile device for Digital FASTPASS. All you need is your theme park ticket or annual pass.

You are able to use the Disneyland app to scan at each machine – if your annual pass or theme park ticket – is connected to it. Utilize this option instead of pulling out your annual pass or theme park ticket at each scanner if you wish.

Regardless of where you purchase park tickets from, every guest is issued a Disneyland park ticket before entering the park. You will use this ticket to pull FASTPASSES as described in this post. Discounted tickets can be found here.

Every Disneyland ticket has a barcode to scan at FASTPASS distribution machines. Whether paper or plastic, you will have a barcode to scan. The SoCal City Pass will work just like a park ticket.

If you are concerned with kids losing their annual passes or park tickets, I recommend purchasing a lanyard and using them all the time. Less fumbling through bags and room for error. Lanyards can be purchased on site if they’re not bought before you arrive. Save money by purchasing at this link. (They’re $10+ in the parks.) Your theme park ticket or annual pass will scan through the plastic sleeve at the end of your lanyard.

Guests using the DAS system will continue using it as before. The DAS system will work separately from the Digital FASTPASS option.

Keep your FASTPASS Reminder until it’s time to return to the attraction. If machines go down, you have a backup proof of FASTPASS. You will have the option to recycle your Reminder after you scan your ticket the first time at some attractions. There are containers to take your Reminders right after the first scanner machine.

The same rules that you know now for FASTPASSES apply to this new system.

World of Color and Fantasmic! will continue with paper FASTPASSES. They will be pulled as they were before – using your theme park ticket or annual pass – but will not be scanned to enter your viewing section. So, hold onto those!

How Digital FASTPASS Works, in Photos

Arrive at the FASTPASS distribution machines just like before.

Put your theme park ticket or annual pass into the machine and receive a FASTPASS Reminder for when to return to the attraction to use your FASTPASS. This Reminder will only be used to remind you of your return time. You will scan your theme park ticket or annual pass to confirm your FASTPASS.

It looks like this:

Keep your FASTPASS Reminder until it’s time to redeem your FASTPASS. If machines go down, you’ll want that back up.

When it’s time to use your FASTPASS, enter the FASTPASS line and instead of handing your FASTPASS Reminder to a cast member, scan your theme park ticket or annual pass at a machine like this:

Easy!

After that first scan, you can recycle your FASTPASS Reminder. There’s a container to collect them right after that first scanner machine at most attractions. It looks like this:

Continue on through the line.

At some attractions, there will be a second place to stop. Scan your theme park ticket or annual pass – at a machine just like the first – but much closer to actually boarding the attraction.

Again – easy!

And, now you’re done. Enjoy the attraction.

Single Rider Lines

FASTPASSES work well for groups, but if you’re OK with riding separately, consider the Single Rider option.

This works well if you have one person in your group who wants to ride and you don’t want to wait the standard time for the attraction. Single riders must meet attraction height requirements and be at least 7 years of age.

*Matterhorn Single Rider line is incorporated into the FASTPASS line for the attraction. Enter there to ride as a Single Rider.

*On 1.3.2019, Star Tours began testing a Single Rider option. Stay tuned for more info on this.

Rider Switch

Rider Switch (or Rider Swap or Child Swap) might work for you. Here’s how it works: As you approach the line, let a cast member know you’d like to do a Rider Switch. Everyone (adults and children) will then stand in line together. When it’s your turn, one adult will ride (with or without an eligible child) and the other adult will stay with the remaining child or children. Then, the other adult will receive a pass to return to ride without having to wait in line all over again. This means the eligible child can ride twice!

Since Digital FASTPASS and MaxPass have launched, Rider Switch is no longer on paper and is instead added to your theme park ticket or app, depending on which program you’re using. Up to three guests can have a “Rider Switch Pass” scanned onto their ticket or app.

With the new systems, there is a limit of 3 people per Rider Switch. Also, there is now a 1 hour time period for you to return to use those return passes. And, you may only hold one Rider Switch pass at a time.

Disney explains it here:

To Use Rider Switch:

1. First check with a Cast Member to see if Rider Switch is offered at the attraction you’d like to experience.

2. Upon arriving at the selected attraction, approach the greeting Cast Member with your entire group. Members will be divided into 2 parties—“Party 1” includes those riding the attraction first, while “Party 2” consists of non-riders and their supervising Guests.

3. The supervising Guests of Party 2—which can include a maximum of 3 people— will have their admission media/tickets scanned and must wait in the designated area—usually outside the attraction—while Party 1 waits in line to experience the attraction.

4. After Party 1 experiences the attraction, they’ll assume supervision of the non-riding Guests.

5. The supervising Guests of Party 2 should then return to the appropriate attraction entrance (e.g., FASTPASS queue or attraction exit) to have their admission media/tickets re-scanned by a Cast Member for the Rider Switch entitlement. At this point, Party 2 may enter the appropriate attraction return line and board without waiting in the regular queue.

Note: The #3 in this description above provided by Disney is a bit confusing. I have never seen guests told to wait in a designated area.

Rider Switch is available at these attractions in Disneyland:

Autopia (Tomorrowland)

Big Thunder Mountain (Frontierland)

Gadget’s Go Coaster (Toontown)

Indiana Jones (Adventureland)

Matterhorn (Fantasyland)

Space Mountain (Tomorrowland)

Splash Mountain (Critter Country)

Star Tours (Tomorrowland)

Rider Switch is available at these attractions in California Adventure:

California Screamin (Paradise Pier)

Goofy’s Sky Skool (Paradise Pier)

Grizzly River Run (Grizzly Peak)

Guardians of the Galaxy – MISSION: Breakout!

Radiator Springs Racers (Cars Land)

Silly Symphony Swings – tandem or single (Paradise Pier)

Soarin’ Around the World (Grizzly Peak)

Tuck and Roll’s Drive ‘Em Buggies (a bug’s land)

***To maximize your day with young children, use FASTPASSES along with Rider Switch. Have each adult grab a *different* FASTPASS and then use Rider Switch on each. You’ll be holding two FASTPASSES at once, essentially, doubling your ability to enjoy attractions.

Strategies

I spend a lot of time creating, testing and perfecting strategies for each park that will allow you to move in the most efficient manner through each attraction.

Visit this post for how to start your day at each park. A good plan can make all the difference in the success of your day.

379 COMMENTS

Last time I was at California Adventure you could pull a fastpass for Radiator Springs Racers and then immediately get a different fastpass (since your ride window would be several hours later in most cases). Is this still the case with the MaxPass system? My strategy used to be at rope drop to run to the Radiator Springs fastpass kiosk and then run to the World of Color kiosk and then go on to fastpass Toy Story Midway Mania or something. Is that still possible? Or is it when you grab the Radiator Springs fastpass now you have to wait at least 90 mins before you can get the next fastpass if your ride time is a few hours away?

I have never known the system to allow an immediate grab for a FASTPASS after RSR. With MaxPass, you’ll wait 90 minutes. Hence, why I suggest not pulling it first. With Incredicoaster, you’ll only wait 30 minutes. Don’t stall your day immediately with that 90 minute wait.

I bought MaxPass for my Disneyland trip. When I go to My Photos in the Disneyland app, they only have the options to save or share. There’s no option to edit. When I go to the website, it has a “download and share” option and then there’s only a download button. The other button is to purchase prints. What gives? How do I add borders and stickers like I used to?

Hi Casey!
Love all this info! Thank you!!
I have a specific question regarding Rider Switch. I have a party of 5. Myself, my husband, and my 3 kids: 5yo, 4yo and 1yo.
The 5 and 4 yr old are over 40” , however one of us will have to stay with my 1yo while
riding those attractions.
I’m trying to maximize our FPs.
If my husband was to grab one for Space Mountain, I could essentially grab one for Star Tours at the same? And we could each use rider switch to ride each attraction?
What about my 5yo and 4yo? Should 1 grab a FP with my husband and 1 grab one with me? You mentioned Rider Switch works for up to 3 people. Would they get to ride each attraction twice? Essentially getting 4 rides!?
I’m not sure if I’m understanding correctly, so please correct me if I’m wrong 🙂
Thank you,
Kathleen

Hello! This was an incredible guide, thank you so much for your help! I do have a quick question: I was hoping to get fast passes (through MaxPass) for Soarin’ (for 3-4pm) first thing in the morning, but my family and I plan on going to Disneyland first before DCA. Are we able to get fastpasses to Disneyland after the 1 hour grace period of getting the Soarin’ fastpass? Or is this not possible?

Question: My group is four adults and five kids (8, 7, 4, 3, 3). What’s the minimum number of MaxPasses that should we purchase (and for whom) to use in tandem with Rider Switch passes (for the rides the littles can’t do) to minimize our cost and our wait times?

Also–we’re going for five days; four of those are yellow on your calendar and one is red. Seems like the MaxPasses would be most helpful on the busiest day, right?

MaxPass is most helpful on busier days for sure. But, I recommend it for each park day if it’s in your budget. If not, this post shares all about the free, Classic FASTPASS, too.

There really isn’t a maximum amount of FASTPASSES that you should select during your day (you can use as many as you want). I recommend following my strategies for each park to go in the right order of attractions and FASTPASSES. Use Rider Switch as you wish on the attractions you want to split up for.

Definitely check out this post for how to minimize wait times. I link up to my experiences in the parks, too, where I test these strategies. They’re updated constantly to ensure you have the most updated info on how to go through Disneyland and DCA:

I bet there’s an obvious answer to this, but I’m not thinking of it! So, thanks for your help!

Should my husband & I both use the App to manage Max Passes? I’m wondering what happens if we each take one of our two children to different rides. Does it work correctly if he selects some passes for all 4 of us on his phone, then I select some for just 2 on my phone? Or, should one of us just be in charge of passes all day?

You can both use it or you can have one person manage it. Everything lives on your barcode, so even if you both have it on your phones, you won’t risk doubling up.

I recommend you both download the app and sign into your account so that you can access the system if you wish. If you split up, your husband can use his app to enter an attraction with a FASTPASS or everyone can use their park tickets. All you need is the barcode to enter. That barcode is on the app and on your park ticket.

When you ‘build a party’, you can add everyone in your family or just one or two…..you have to build the party each time. So, that will help you ahead of time knowing who is going on what attraction.

Watch the video in this post if you have a second prior to visiting. It walks you through how to build a party and then choose a FASTPASS. Seeing it there might make more sense.

Does the Fast Pass system help any if you are arriving at the park around NOON? We are flying in on a Wednesday and land around 10am. Then Friday we get on the Disney Wonder, so we only have 1.5 days to do Disney parks. I am vacillating between CA or DL for one day. But if we can get enough magic for our money, I wouldn’t mind showing up to a park at lunch time. We do have two small kids (ages 2 and 5) so we also have to contend with them and making sure we are not waiting too much in line for things.

I have a question about entering park tickets into the app. We already have our tickets (bought through my husband’s work for a discount), and I see that you suggest entering them into the app now. I plan to use my device as the main “point person” for our group for max pass purposes. By entering ALL the tickets into my app now, does this mean everyone will need to enter the park with me? Or will the paper tickets we have still work for that purpose?

Basically we are traveling with my mother in law and I’m concerned she won’t be ready with the rest of us at the butt crack of dawn waiting to enter the park 🙂 So I’m planning on giving her her own ticket the night before and we can meet in the park if she is late. Should I still add hers to my app now? Or wait? I hope this makes sense!

First of all love all of your advice, thank you. But I have some very specific questions regarding max pass/fastpass/rider switch that I’m still confused about. First of all, my wife and I are heading to Disneyland with our 4 year old (tall enough to ride almost everything) and our 2 year old. I will be purchasing the Max pass.
1. Rider switch–I pictured the whole group going through the line together and (for example) when we get to the front of the line where we board the ride 1 parent gets on with the 4 year old while the other holds the 2 year old. When the ride gets completed the parents switch and the 4 year old gets to ride twice back to back. Is this the case? If not, where does the other person wait with the child that’s too small? Are they not allowed to walk up to the ride with the riders in group 1?
2. Use of Max pass with rider switch–My assumption with Max pass is that when I arrived in the park I would create a group with my whole family. But, are you saying that because of rider switch I shouldn’t do this? My wife and I should create 2 unattached Max passes because when one of us books a fastpass at a ride the other person can do rider switch and doesn’t need a fastpass, and thus we’ll be able to get twice as many fastpasses? Can you kinda review the exact process logistics for this?

1. Rider switch–I pictured the whole group going through the line together and (for example) when we get to the front of the line where we board the ride 1 parent gets on with the 4 year old while the other holds the 2 year old. When the ride gets completed the parents switch and the 4 year old gets to ride twice back to back. Is this the case? If not, where does the other person wait with the child that’s too small? Are they not allowed to walk up to the ride with the riders in group 1? – You can all wait together if you wish. Some parents don’t like to do this, as the little one who can’t ride often gets fussy. But, you absolutely can.

2. Use of Max pass with rider switch–My assumption with Max pass is that when I arrived in the park I would create a group with my whole family. But, are you saying that because of rider switch I shouldn’t do this? My wife and I should create 2 unattached Max passes because when one of us books a fastpass at a ride the other person can do rider switch and doesn’t need a fastpass, and thus we’ll be able to get twice as many fastpasses? Can you kinda review the exact process logistics for this? – You should have everyone’s tickets in your app, which will be used to select FASTPASSES via MaxPass. When you create a group, you’ll literally click each guest that you want in the group – every time you go to choose a FASTPASS. So, you’re not creating a group that will “stick” for each FASTPASS selection. Rider Switch is ideal for parents with one kid that can’t ride everything because you can essentially double up on your FASTPASS game.

Here’s an example:

For Soarin’, you would create a group with you and one kid in it, use your FASTPASS to board the attraction, and then your wife will use the Rider Switch pass to board the attraction when you’re finished. No need for your wife to select that FASTPASS, as the Rider Switch return pass will get her in the attraction.

Allow her to select a FASTPASS for Toy Story Midway Mania (with the eligible child) and then you use the Rider Switch pass to enjoy it after they finish.

In this example with Soarin’, would both the adult AND the child BOTH need to select a FASTPASS? I understand that only one adult needs to do it since the other will use the Rider Switch pass, but curious about how many FASTPASSES are needed.

thank you so much for your thorough review/instructions of the Maxpass. Question, can more than one phone have all the tickets linked on it…just in case the main Maxpass scheduler’s phone runs out of battery? We are often at the park for over 12 hours so were curious if this can be done

Sorry I can’t find the answer to this I have looked and probably overlooking it somewhere. I purchased tickets also purchased the maxpass option through disneyland.com and made reservations for the hotel there as well. However it says tickets will be available upon hotel check in. At Disney World you can make Fastpass seletions 60 days prior to check in. Is this not an option at Disneyland? If it is how do I link a ticket when I won’t get them until check in? Thanks

The FASTPASS system at Disneyland is completely different (and vastly superior) to FastPass+ at Disney World. However, you cannot reserve FASTPASSES prior to arrival. Go ahead and attach your tickets to your Disneyland app now. I share how to do so in this link:

Continue on past that part of this post to read everything you need to know about MaxPass. I would actually start from the beginning, too, for basic FASTPASS info including which attractions use FASTPASSES.

MaxPass allows you to select FASTPASSES on the app. You can select far more quantity wise than you can at Disney World and in a quicker fashion. I often complete every FASTPASS attraction at Disneyland or California Adventure by about 1pm.

These strategies will show you how to get the most out of your visit, including utilizing MaxPass to make that happen. Choose which one works for you and follow it to start your day at each park.

I am still not really sure if you can reserve your Fastpasses prior your arrival to the park. You said the Maxpass will only start to work once you cross the entrance of the park, so I am guessing you cannot reserve a Fastpass prior to your arrival like you can do at Disneyworld, where you can reserve them 60 days prior to your arrival. Hope you can clarify. Thank you!

I love your site! It’s seriously my favorite! I have been going to Disneyland every year since 2011 and pride myself on being well educated through your site. I read through most of the comments on this blog post, but still would like closure on the current Rider Switch option.

In previous years, my party consisted of 3 adults and one child. For Space Mountain, 2 adults would ride, while the other adult and child waited at the ride exit. Then one riding adult switched with the one waiting and was able to get on the ride immediately.

In December 2017, my party consisted of 2 adults and 2 children (only one that didn’t meet height requirement). I pulled FPs for RSR for 3 of us being that my one year old didn’t have a park ticket. I told the Cast Member that we wanted to do Rider Switch. He scanned all 3 of our FPs. Then one adult and the older child proceeded in the FP line. After their ride, the waiting adult and older child were scanned in and proceeded in the FP line again. This was discouraging for me because I thought the purpose of Rider Switch was to eliminate having to wait in line again. Even FP lines can be long and I felt like the Rider Switch option did nothing for us as we all already had FPs, so putting us in the FP line didn’t make a difference.

So to better plan for this year, I should grab DIFFERENT FPs for each adult, therefore making the Rider Switch option actually work in our favor? Is that my best option? Or am I totally off?

Hi Casey! I have a rider switch question. I’m sorry if it’s already been addressed. Our group will consist of 3 adults and 2 children.

Say the first two adults go on the ride and the third stays behind. Can one of the adults that already went on the ride go with the adult that stayed behind originally? Or is the person who stayed with the kids first destined to ride alone?

I thought it used to work this way but I could be mistaken.

Thank you for all of your help! I looked at your site religiously when we planned our trip back in May 2017. We are going again October 2018 so I’m back again!

With the Rider Switch option (detailed way at the bottom of this post), I share that you can add up to 3 guests to return and ride again with the Rider Switch pass. That should apply to your third adult…..you’re good!

I know this is a confusing party of the Disneyland process. Hope that helps!

We were at Disneyland last year about a couple months before the launch of MaxPass. My son and niece used fastpass, while my special needs son and I received help/ride time from a cast member, which we only ride the rocket ride. (He is obsessed with that ride.)

My question is: do they still have cast members posted to help those with special needs or does the MaxPass take care of this?

Last year we visited the cast member near adventureland to get our ride time, walk over to rocket and by the time we got there his wait time wasn’t too long. We must have ridden that rocket ride 10 times that day.

Hi Casey! My family are going with my sister and her kids. The question is if i have my tickets loaded in my app/account and my sister have their tickets loaded in her app/account both with maxpass. Will we be able to get the same fastpass return time if we pull them with 2 separate devices? Thanks!

If you do so within a few minutes of each selection, you’ll be just fine. Don’t stray too far away from the same timing. I walked through DCA with MaxPass and about 50 people – at least a couple dozen devices – and we all were able to ride together because we all got similar or same return windows for each attraction. Enjoy!

When you build a party on your device, can those individuals still see the fastpasses they are holding on their own device? Can you still grab a fastpass on your device if you are built into a party on someone else’s device?

Hi Casey,
I didn’t read through all of the previous comment, so Im sorry if you have already answered this question. Are there any limitations to the Max Pass? Are all of the rides that currently offer Fastpasses the same with Maxpass? We want to buy Maxpass for at least one day that we are there (Mostly for Cars). I want to make sure we can use it on all the rides we wanna ride.

I recently noticed that if you buy your park tickets via the Disneyland website, you can actually add maxpass for the duration of your ticket ahead of time! Just like it asks if you want to add parkhopper, it not asks if you want to also add maxpass. You still can’t make any maxpass reservations until you enter the park, but you don’t have to take the time each morning to pay the $10/person on the app when you get in the turnstiles! Just a tip!

True. But, you have to pay full price for your tickets. You can save a lot of money buying from Get Away Today or other discount sellers and then add MaxPass to your app each morning. It literally takes only seconds.

Amazing article! We go to Disneyland quite often and have up till now used the Digital FASTPASS. This next trip in May we wanted to try MaxPass since we have my Inlaws coming and they don’t want to be walking to all the booths. They also do not have the technology to get the app.

I was wondering if I link all of our tickets to my app account can I pay for all 4 of us to have MaxPass from the one account? I know I will be charged for each ticket I want to have MaxPass, I just didn’t know if I could pay for it all at once or how each person pays if they don’t have the app or technology for the app?

Absolutely. Add everyone’s ticket to your app and then purchase MaxPass from there for everyone. This post shows how to add each ticket. Do that prior to arriving. Then, once you enter the gates, buy MaxPass for everyone. Does that make sense?

I am taking my 5 year (soon to be March 13th) for the first time. It will be my daughter, me and my husband. I love your articile. However I’m confused on the following statement
***To maximize your day with young children, use FASTPASSES along with Rider Switch. Have each adult grab a *different* FASTPASS and then use Rider Switch on each. You’ll be holding two FASTPASSES at once, essentially, doubling your ability to enjoy attractions.

I don’t believe the Rider Switch works with us as we are only 3 people and from my understtanding most rides accommodate 3 at a time.

Can you please explaing the “maximizing” fastpass, holding 2 at once? I thought this can’t be done, under one account. I have all the information on my phone, tickets, dining, etc.

Thank you for any clarification. I tried to read through as many comments as possible but got a bit overwhelmed trying to find my particular answer.

It actually works when there is another child in your party that wouldn’t ride. Here is how to do that:

Since you have two adults, you can each select a FASTPASS for an attraction. So, you choose one for Indiana Jones. Have your husband choose one for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Then, use your Rider Switch return pass to ride Big Thunder and your husband do the same for Indy. You won’t all ride together, but it’s a way to “beat the system” and get more done if you don’t mind trading off.

But wouldn’t you also need FASTPASS for other individuals in your party. For example, we are a family of six, 2 are just too young to ride some of the rides. Does this mean my husband, the other 2 older kids, and I can get 4 different fastpasses? My husband could go with the other 2 kids first, then we switch so I can go with the same 2 kids? We’ve done the print-out FASTPASS before and I believe everybody in the party would have to have FASTPASS, but in the MaxPass case we would only carry 1 fastpass for the entire party? Sorry, I am a little confuse but grateful if this is the case since I am only thinking buying 2 so we get 2 ride fastpasses at a time.

Hi Casey,
I’m loving all the information on your blog! Thanks so much! At WDW this last summer we used the Rider Switch quite often but found that in order to get a Rider Switch Pass at a Fastpass Entrance all guests needed to have a Fastpass. Is this not true for DL? I am hoping I understand correctly: Party of 5 (one too small for rides), 3 get FP for Indiana Jones and ask for Rider Switch while 2 (including youngest) do FP for Buzz, then 3/5 can return on Rider Switch at Indiana Jones even though no one had a FP?

I think one of the biggest perks of choosing MaxPass is that you can make your reservations from anywhere. This saved a lot of extra walking around. I didn’t realize how much extra walking FASTPASS took until I tried MaxPass!

Hi Casey!
I bought online tickets and have already uploaded them to the APP. How am I supposed to get the fast passes? Will the machines read the code in my device or should I change for plastic tickets? I was informed that for entering the park I must just present the code in my device but I wonder how it will work with faspasses as I must insert a ticket in the machine from what I understand. Thank you very much!

I’ve read it many times, but I still didn’t get it how I’m going to enter my pass in the fastpass machine as I don’t have a physical ticket.
I only have an e-ticket as I said. I don’t have a paper ticket, I have an online ticket, linked to my account (and I want to use classic fastpass, not buy the maxpass to use it all online on the app).

+To pull a FASTPASS, enter your theme park ticket or annual pass in the FASTPASS machine near the attraction you want to go on. A “reminder” pass will be issued to you.

Will Disney give me a plastic ticket when I enter the park so I can enter the ticket in the machines for fastpass or is there another way for me to get it using only my bar code from the app? (the company told me I can enter the park only presenting the code from my device).

I also watched the video and can’t see any place that scan my phone in the machine… only a place to insert the ticket. That’s my question, how am I going to insert a ticket if I don’t have a paper one.

Hi Casey, great website/blog! I am a new AP holder for DLR (but have been going on and off since 1987 as I did not live local), and wanted to get your opinion/experiences on Single Rider Line Usage/Abuse. Although the intent of the SRL is to fill all cars to the max, I have seen some inconsistencies in its usage throughout DLR. I *just* went to both parks today, and I found the following:

Matterhorn: CM pretty much ‘ignoring’ the SRL, saying she’d just rather use the standby or Fastpass line. I tried out the SRL at 830am, and stood with 2 other Single Riders. The standby line wasn’t that long (maybe 10 minutes max), and we were seeing that we weren’t even being used. My 2 other riders went back to the regular standby line (we agreed if they got to board before I did, they would use me as their 3rd.) . Sure enough, they did.

Radiator Springs Racers: I had a FP and saw that the SRL seemed to be going faster than the FP line (took me 20 minutes).

How does a CM determine when to use the SRL over the FP and/or standby line? Seems very arbitrary.

Sorry for the long post 🙁 . I used your strategy for the 1st 2 hours at Disneyland Park, and it worked like a charm! I was done with all major rides at DP by 11am (and that’s even with the park only letting us in 15 minutes early to the rope drop!)

The 6 of us (2 grandparents, 2 parents and 2 grandkids) will go to Disneyland for 3 days in March. All 4 adults will have the Disney app on their iPhones. Does everyone need to scan in the tickets or if we share the login for the Disney account, one scan is enough with any of us being able to use the tickets or to get Fastpasses using Maxpass? How does this work and what’s the best way to make it easy for all of us? thanks.

Yes, if I’m reading your question correctly. We did essentially that back in July, the first week of MaxPass. For us it was … Scan a ticket into the phone once on the app (all phones signed into the app, you will need to share your login and password, remember anyone signed in can use to app to buy/reserve on the app). Have everyone pick a name, easier to remember than the silly number chain. Then your can choose your group for all six, or 5, or however many you want, and have a multiple groups as well. That can be managed by anyone signed in, so a little communication helps (old school phone use). Remember you can buy and use Maxpass as soon as you get scanned in the front gates, before the park opens. Once scanned in we were able to use Maxpass from our hotel that same day if we took a break. Have a great time.

Hi Casey! I am from Brazil and I’m going to Disneyland on July. I understand that I can use MaxPass once I entered the park, correct? My point is: is it posible to purchase MaxPass before entering the park? We already have the tickets code, but we will have to change them at the box office. So, I would like to know if I can purchase MaxPass while changing the tickets. Thank you!

Fantastic article. Thank you so much for taking the time to put this together, you covered all the bases!

One question: you mention “You can choose MaxPass, which costs $10/day per person, but includes unlimited selections of FASTPASSES from both parks”. I thought you could always get unlimited fast passes using the classic fastpass (depending on availability). Have they now limited the number since introducing Max Pass?

I’ll be in DL/CA in two weeks (Wahoo!!!) with my mother, my husband, and our two children (3 and 1). If I purchase Maxpass for just me and/or my husband, would we be able to use the Maxpass and rider switch at these rides, and be able to get at least the three adults and 3 year old onto every ride (while someone stays with the 1 year old)? (AND be able to utilize the PhotoPass for all 5 of us as well?) Or do you think I need to get a Maxpass for all 4 of us?

Thanks for the wealth of VERY useful info. I started to plan a 3 day trip to Disneyland/DCA for March 18-22. I bought tickets for everyone (4 adults & 7.5 yr old twins) through Citypass. I downloaded the Disney app. I would like to link the tickets to the app and then buy through the app, ahead of time, MaxPass but only for 4 out of the 6 people. Can I do that? Thanks in advance.

Hi! Thanks for the info! I am used to WDW so the Disneyland fastpass system is new to me. I am going in late February (the week after presidents day). I know that the park is less busy at this time, so do you think getting a maxpass is really necessary? Thanks!!

In follwo up, I was wondering if it’s possible to puchase and set up the MaxPass before entering the park for the day, that way it’s ready to go?
If not, are we able to purchase and set it up after entering the park but before the park officially opens? Thank you!!

Rider swap question…
Last time we were there it was paper tickets. My husband and two kids would ride the ride, and then I would ride with the same two kids (third child typically can’t ride). Is this still possible with the digital rider swap? The Disney instructions make it look like two distinct groups. Thanks!

The cast members will actually assign the ‘return pass’ to your app now. Or, if you’re not using your app and only using Digital FASTPASS (Classic), they’ll attach the return pass to your theme park ticket. So, it’s not as easy as it used to be – with handing off the paper pass to whomever wanted it. You could always hand off your theme park ticket to another person (they don’t check photos when scanning any tickets/passes like these). But, it’s best to know who will want to use the return passes if possible. I haven’t seen them deny people for riding both times, however. The two distinct groups aren’t necessarily an issue.

So, if my two kids are on the ride with dad, will they assign a ‘return pass’ to just me or my two kids as well?
Does this mean they will be scanning our tickets throughout the day? Last time we went, we really only used them to enter the park. If this is the case I’ll need to have them a bit easier to access.
Thanks for all your help!

Hey, Kendra. Disregard the random “9am to 9pm” if you see information on the site supporting otherwise. Some attractions take a bit to warm up and some require a long loading time, hence the possibility of Disney sharing hours that narrow down the time that you’ll actually be in the parks (going after those attractions!).

The strategies I provide to help guests navigate the start to their park visit each day actually work out so well that I almost never wait more than 15 minutes in each line. I highly recommend FASTPASSES for your visit – or at least using the Digital “Classic” FASTPASSES to help you avoid the wait in line. This post shares the most current FASTPASS system (which is now digital, but doesn’t require you to use your app)

Thank you so much for this article! It’s so helpful when planning a trip. I do have a question and I apologize if you have already answered this in the comments section. Is there a maximum number of fast passes you can get a day? And is there a maximum number of fast passes you can pull for a single attraction during a day? Thank you again!

Hi, Deanna. There is no maximum for FASTPASS qty with or without MaxPass. Both the old school system (now “Digital”) and MaxPass pull from the same pool of FASTPASSES for each attraction block. Here’s the only catch you might encounter: You can’t be holding a FASTPASS for Indiana Jones and then select a FASTPASS via MaxPass for the same attraction. You have to have been on that attraction in order for Disney to release to you the next FASTPASS option. So, no back to back Splash Mountains. But, still good!

Hi Casey! A group of me and my friends are going to be headed out to Disney for the Christmas decorations on November 11th! We are getting max passes! Is there a guide that effectively outlines a one day park hopper utilizing the max pass? We want to get out of it as much as possible!

I have a question about maxpass and rider switch. We are travelling with three adults and two kids in January. If I’m understanding this correctly, if I get a FASTPASS for an attraction my husband should get a different FASTPASS? The rider switch would then essentially act as a FASTPASS for each person in our party? Since there are three adults should we all select different FASTPASSES and utilize the rider switch where we can?

Thanks in advance for your info! This seems like a really amazing loop hole to maximize the FASTPASS system.

Yes. Rider Switch is a great way to extend your FASTPASSES because the return guests will use the Rider Switch pass instead of a FASTPASS to board the attraction. So, you should all choose different ones. With that in mind, they’ve recently added some restrictions (limit 3 per kid and you have to return in an hour, etc), so be sure you know all the rules. But, it’s super helpful with young children!

This is a fantastic post. Thank you! However, I would like to recommend that you define acronyms like DCA and DAS the first time you use them. I had to figure out what DCA was through context and had to look up DAS.

I just booked our trip for 2018 so I am probably jumping the gun a bit on planning, but I haven’t been in over 10 years and it will be the first time for many people in my party so I’m trying to soak up as much information as I can. We have 5 people coming. If we purchase MaxPass, it will cost $250 for 5 days. I was planning on purchasing the $99 PhotoPass option. If we do MaxPass, would we still need to purchase the $99 PhotoPass option? I’m understanding that there is some sort of PhotoPass included with MaxPass but I haven’t been able to figure out what exactly. We have one character dining included with our Costco travel purchase for 2018 and might purchase a second character dining reservation, if that matters. I’m not necessarily concerned about physical prints as long as I can access all of the digital prints.

If all stays as it is now when you travel, you do not need to purchase the $99 PhotoPass Collection. MaxPass includes all of your digital images – around the parks, with characters, at character meals and on attractions. Stick with MaxPass.

This post has lots of basic information for planning. Take a look and let me know how else I can help!

Disneyland does not allow FASTPASSES to be selected in advance like WDW. You can only choose them the day of. This post has lots of other info if you’re familiar with WDW and want to know how Disneyland works in comparison:

We are going with my Girl Scout Troup, and I read that I can have everyone in my party use the same Maxpass to use for the Photopass option? So do I just have everyone in my party log in as me? or how does that work?

I would recommend having the girls collect the Disney Photo Pass cards and then you scan them into your device, rather than having them use their apps all the time. You’ll be fussing with battery charging and such if you have each kid using the app. You can easily scan in all the cards as needed – there is no limit. And, everyone can use your account – no problem at all.

My Disney profile has the names loaded into it. Then, when I attached the annual passes, the names appeared to identify each. You should be able to name yours upon scanning in each ticket. Let me know if you’re not able to do so.

First of all, I am so sorry for your loss. I can’t even imagine losing a family member. 🙁 My heart breaks for you.

I have a question regarding rider swap. I am not a big rides person, as I get motion sick so incredibly easily. My husband is going to be going with our 2 kids on the roller coasters or basically anything I think I won’t be able to handle. Can we do the rider switch? Like he goes with one kid, while I wait with the other? And then he can come back and my CHILD can switch with the other child and then can go with my husband (now riding twice)? Does that make sense? I don’t know if most of the rides seat 3 people across, that would eliminate that problem if they did.

Thank you, Vanessa. I appreciate your kindness so much. We’re taking it day by day.

Some rides allow three in one row. For those that do not, you can still utilize Rider Switch. Your husband, if he wishes to ride twice, will just need to use your park ticket, as the Rider Switch return pass is now connected to park tickets. They won’t care that he’s using yours. They don’t confirm photos before you enter the attraction. So, no problem at all. He can ride twice. If you’re using MaxPass, you can still have him use your paper theme park ticket instead of handing over your phone. The barcode is consistent on the ticket and app, so no problem there.

Help! My Disneyland app is only offering me the option of linking an Annual Pass or buying tickets. I already have tickets from a third-party vendor but it’s not giving me the option to “Link Tickets & Passes” (as it shows on your screen shot above) just “Link a Pass” and my ticket numbers are coming up as invalid (hopefully because they are ticket numbers not pass numbers!). What am I missing? Thanks!!

Hello! I will be coming to Disneyland/DCA on October 9th with a one day park hopper. Just traveling w my hubby, we don’t have kids. I read your plan for how to tackle both parks, which advises to start with DCA. However, on October 9th there’s an extra magic hour at DCA (& we aren’t staying on property). Do you advise that we should switch it up and go to Disneyland first then? (The main rides we want to do at DCA are soarin’ and RSR; we don’t plan to do guardians). Thanks for any advice you can give!

I rarely have an EMH day at DCA or any other, so my days are always designed around NOT having that privilege. With that being said, having it makes you wonder……WHAT ELSE?…..Hmmmm…

If I were you, I would totally start at Disneyland the day you’re referencing. I would immediately go on Space Mountain and then enjoy Star Tours with a FASTPASS shortly after (via MaxPass or Digital FASTPASS), Buzz Lightyear and then Star Tours with a FASTPASS before jumping into DCA head first.

So many options here. Let me know if you are planning on using MaxPass or not, so I can help some more. Yay!

How would you advise we plan our day to get those in? Would also like to do mr toad’s wild ride and Snow White if possible. Any other rides we’re missing that you’d recommend? (My husband hates rides with drops, hence leaving off guardians)

Thanks so much!! We are big WDW people but I was only at Disneyland once, years ago!

Hello! I will be coming to Disneyland/DCA on October 9th with a one day park hopper. Just traveling w my hubby, we don’t have kids. I read your plan for how to tackle both parks, which advises to start with DCA. However, on October 9th there’s an extra magic hour (we aren’t staying on property). Do you advise that we should switch it up and go to Disneyland first then? (The main rides we want to do at DCA are soarin’ and RSR; we don’t plan to do guardians). Thanks for any advice you can give!

Hi,
We are visiting in October and are planning to just do one day in DCA and 2 in DL. Have you experienced or heard anymore if Soarin’ is available before rope drop? I have noticed wait time can be 60+ minutes at park opening ( on days with EMM, which we won’t get to take advantage of). Fastpass seem to be going quickly for it too! Our top two priorities are this and RSR. If we can’t get to Soarin’ before park opening do you think it makes sense to pull RSR or Soarin FP first?

You may ride one ride again and again if you choose, but with MaxPass, you cannot select that same attraction for your next choice. You have to select another. Then, you could repeat your original if interested. Hope this helps!

Hi Casey,
Your information is so helpful! I recently downloaded the Disney app for our trip in Oct and have been getting a general idea of wait times for the parks. I have noticed that rides at DL seem have fastpasses available much later in the day while those at DCA run out more quickly. Is that true?

DCA has two key attractions that will run out quickest – RSR and Guardians. Disneyland’s biggest is Space Mountain. Star Tours goes quickly sometimes, too. Otherwise, the rest of the park is available later in the day – you are correct.

Good evening – leaving on Friday to go to Disneyland for the first time in about 4 years! So excited!! I’m a tad confused, can you get FASTPASSES on your mobile device or do you have to have the MAXPASS to do this? Thank you in advance.

If I have 3-day tickets but just want to purchase Maxpass for 1 day, is that possible? We typically don’t park hop and every year we alternate which park gets 2 days and which gets 1 day. I’d like to just do Maxpass for the park that gets 1 day if that’s possible.

Casey! Yikes! I don’t know if i just messed up 🙁 After reading this post and becoming excited about our upcoming trip (arriving DL 10/25), I scanned 1 park ticket into my Disneyland app as this post recommended
to do once you have your tickets. Now when I look in my app- it shows that ticket now expires 9/16/17- which is the 13 days after today! Please tell me this isn’t true? Did I just mess up and validate this ticket in someway? And now I will have to purchase a new one?! Help please!!! Is there someone I need to call? Something I need to do?

Hi, Mandy. Your ticket will not expire. Another reader scanned hers early and was equally concerned. She called Disneyland and was assured the expiration day will move every day until you visit, actually activating your ticket. It should move one day, each day, showing you that you have 13 days from the day of activation to use all of your days. Check tomorrow and this should hopefully make more sense. Let me know if you need more help!

It’s confusing. The ticket loads that expiration to alert guests ahead of time that they have to use all their days within the 13 day time frame. But that first day doesn’t start until you activate. Let me know what you see tomorrow. Deep breaths!

Hi there!
I just did the same for our trip in December and have been madly trying to figure out whether I accidentally activated our tickets all the way from Australia! Did you get an outcome on this? Thanks, Christine

Each day, the date of expiration should move out one day. Meaning, they add that wording to warn guests that all days on your ticket have to be used within 13 days of the first date you enter the park. So, if you scanned your tickets in today (9.29.2017), you’ll have that expiration of 10.12.2017. Tomorrow, on the 30th, that expiration date should move to 10.13.2017. It’s a tricky wording that is confusing many guests. Keep checking to see the date move. Let me know if you have any issues.

Okay I think I understand this better after your last update (Thanks!!) But have one question to confirm I’m understanding correctly. We are a party of 3 adults and 2 babies. Which means only two adults will be able to ride a FP ride at any given time as someone will always have to wait with the children. So could we only purchase MaxPass for 2 people, since the 3rd person will be waiting with the kids, and utilize riderswitch?

We JUST got home from DL a couple days ago and I cannot express how AWESOME the MaxPass system is. Worked wonderfully and the photo pass as part of it is a terrific bonus (that alone is worth the $10!)
We had no connectivity issues while in the park. The only time we didn’t use it was when we did rider trade off for California Screamin – for that they issued me a regular fast pass ticket.
All in all this is SO WORTH the $10 per person per day – we had a party of 3. Perhaps if there were 5 or more in the part it might have made me second guess its use but for our little family it was worth every penny! So glad they instituted this at DL!!

great article!! if we are a huge party/group/family (19 of us!) can we pull that many fp on the app?? or do you think we should split into families and hit pull at the same time to get the same hour block??? thanks 🙂

I would split it up into a couple of apps for your benefit. You have to scan each person’s park ticket or via MaxPass on the app to redeem your FASTPASS for each attraction. So, it would be better managed by two people.

We are a family of 8 going to Disneyland at the end of the month with a 4 day hopper pass we have already purchased. If we choose to purchase the MaxPass do we have to buy it for all 4 days or can we we just get it for a day or two? Thanks for all your info and updates!

Quick Rider Switch question: If I take our daughter on BTMR and my wife waits with our son (who doesn’t meet the height requirement), can our daughter get a Rider Switch to ride again with my wife while I sit out with our son? Your post reads as if only members of Party 2 (non-riders) can return on Rider Switch.

Say a ride runs out of fast passes can you still get a max pass? I go later on during the day but it’s still crowded me and my friend were ify about buying them but now reading more I think we will. If we can still get a max pass even though the fast passes are out.

Thanks for the info! Does anyone know how the photopass downloads work through MaxPass though? I’m seeing conflicting information about it, some stating that you have 90 days to download your photos (which I think is actually 45 according to the photopass website) and others saying you have to download them within 24 hours. Can anyone confirm for sure which one it is? We’ve used photopass at WDW many times with different packages and never had a problem, but this will be our first time at Disneyland and we want to make sure we don’t miss out on our photos. Also, do you get a license agreement (legal permission to order prints) with a MaxPass purchase like you do at WDW? Thanks so much for your help.

This is a lot of great information…thank you! We purchased the SOCAL CityPasses but I am not able to register them on the DL app because the app asks for an 18 digit ticket number but the CityPass is only 12 digits. Am I missing something or are we not able to register them in the app?

You will be issued actual Disneyland tickets to use at Disneyland, which you will be able to register on the app. Every guest who enters Disneyland must have a ticket, annual pass, etc with the 18 digit code. The ticket booths at the park can issue these tickets to you.

I love your blog! I see you are getting bombarded with questions but I’m still not sure I completely understand the Rider Swap aspect. We are coming in September with 3 adults and 2 babies who won’t be big enough for any of the roller coaster rides. Do they have to get out of the double stroller and stand in line for all the roller coasters they can’t ride, or do we just go to the start of the line and tell the cast member we need a Rider Switch Pass? I can see how Rider Swap can be invaluable to us, but I don’t want to have to get both girls out of the stroller and entertain them in long lines for rides they can’t even ride…

Hi Casey, forgot one question, wondering on best way to carry my wallet and essentials. Can a medium/small backpack go on rides with me? Don’t want to obviously leave my wallet in the stroller while on rides, so maybe I need a cross body bag? Do you advise a lanyard. Looks like everything is digital now with maxpass. THANK YOU!!!!!

Hi Casey, my family of four (5&7 year olds) will be in the park for three days next week. I’m wondering now with max pass if you think a park hopper is a good idea? Seems more convenient to hop? Does get away today offer maxpass tickets? does maxpass still work from your hotel during a midday break after checking into the park that morning? THANK YOU!!!!! Lastly can we upgrade our one park/day ticket to a hopper if we get there and want to. 🙂

Omg! Thank you so much for the MaxPass tutorial for the Disneyland Resort! What a life saver as well as timesaver! Heading to the parks in a few days and will be totally familiar and prepared for this new feature. Awesome job….thanks again!

I have some questions about the new digital Rider Switch system. I heard that you can’t obtain more than one Rider Switch Pass at a time per person now that it’s digital, is that true? Does it now have a return time like fastpass? Also before it went digital, my husband and my son (group 1) would get fastpasses and ride the attraction. Then I would use my Rider Switch pass, bringing my son who was in group 1 to ride it again since the pass allowed up to 3 people. Does it still work this way? or the system won’t allow to add Rider Switch to his ticket because he’s in group 1?

The system works similarly to how it did before, but now the “return passes” will be scanned onto each guest’s theme park ticket or MaxPass. Each time, you can have up to 3 people. I updated this post with Disney’s official wording. See if this makes sense:

To Use Rider Switch:

1. First check with a Cast Member to see if Rider Switch is offered at the attraction you’d like to experience.

2. Upon arriving at the selected attraction, approach the greeting Cast Member with your entire group. Members will be divided into 2 parties—“Party 1” includes those riding the attraction first, while “Party 2” consists of non-riders and their supervising Guests.

3. The supervising Guests of Party 2—which can include a maximum of 3 people— will have their admission media/tickets scanned and must wait in the designated area—usually outside the attraction—while Party 1 waits in line to experience the attraction.

4. After Party 1 experiences the attraction, they’ll assume supervision of the non-riding Guests.

5. The supervising Guests of Party 2 should then return to the appropriate attraction entrance (e.g., FASTPASS queue or attraction exit) to have their admission media/tickets re-scanned by a Cast Member for the Rider Switch entitlement. At this point, Party 2 may enter the appropriate attraction return line and board without waiting in the regular queue.

I’m still confused by this wording. So we have 3 adults and 2 children who can’t ride the ride.
Party 1 is person A&B while person C stays to watch the kids, Party 2
Can Person A ride with person C in Party 2 while person B watches the kids, or can A only ride it once in Party 1 with this new system?

Also, now that it’s electronic can you have more than one rider switch pass on your ticket at a time? And/or is there a time frame you have to come back and use your rider switch pass in? Wondering if I can collect rider switch all morning and then go take my turn to ride the rides during nap time?

Hi Casey, love your work! I’m still debating getting the Maxpass vs the photo pass for our trip early Sept as it’s predicted to be a quieter time in the parks we might do ok without it? So staying glued to this topic! I’m just wondering the actual process of getting the photos which are attached to your maxpass, do they download to your account or to your mobile device? With MP how long to you have to get your pics is it the same as photopass? Also can you tell me how to connect tickets to our app if you have purchased them already via parksavers?

@Sam: Just came back from Disneyland using the MaxPass. We downloaded Splash and Space Mountain photos and it was easy. When you exit the ride and see (laugh at) your “official” photo, you’ll see an alpha-numeric code on it. Take a picture of that, and then move out of the way to sync your photo to your DL app. 🙂 Open the app and then go to My Photos and click on “Link Photo Pass”. You can manually enter that code and then after about 20 minutes, the photo will be synched to your app (and it’ll look all official with the ride name on the top). Save the picture to your phone, share with others, etc… Easy. One feature we did NOT use was the character photo sync because our toddler wasn’t interested in waiting in line for the opps!

The parks are now connected, so it’s not like it was 6 months or so ago where they didn’t “speak” to each other.

However, you can technically pull one FASTPASS from either park as soon as you qualify for it. So, if you’re holding a FASTPASS for Soarin’ and your time arrives, you can then pull one for Splash Mountain, essentially holding one from each park. But, the old days of where they were disconnected are gone. Buzz is connected now, too. Everything’s equal and all fair game except for Fantasmic! and World of Color, which are still on paper and won’t interrupt your FASTPASS pulling.

Thanks Casey for all of your work!
I do want to point out one thing. The article states,

“FASTPASSES on the MaxPass portion of the Disneyland app are available during Extra Magic Hour and Magic Morning, just as Classic FASTPASSES were. And just like they were prior to MaxPass launching, not every attraction will be available during EMH/MM. ”

I spoke with a Cast Member and she told me that FastPasses are not available during MM or EMH. I don’t remember them being available until the park opens to the general public.

It’s my experience that the “big” rides like Space Mountain, TSMM, Guardians of the Galaxy and RSR have newly allowed FASTPASSES during EMH/MM. I’ve seen it happen and have had many readers share the same info. However, I’ll be watching this and will change that wording if I find that it has changed. Disney invited me to learn the system with a cast member from the MaxPass Launch team the day before the product went live and I asked specifically if this would continue and she said it would. I’ll keep you updated!

Thank you for posting all the details on the new Max Pass system. We are heading to the parks for the first time in October and trying to determine if this is worth the money for us. We will have 5 days in the parks and there are 4 of us traveling. That’s $200 for the new system if I am understanding correctly. I believe Photopass is $99. Is it really worth the extra $100 to be able to book a Fastpass once you get through the gates versus walking to the distribution site? Being this is our first trip to Disneyland we do want to be able to see as much as possible.
Another possible wrinkle in our case is that we have a special needs daughter that we cold utilize the GAC system for to do the rides she can handle.
My first thought is to stick with the traditional Fastpass system, but being a newbie I didn’t know if I was overlooking something.
Thank you! Your site has been SO helpful!

For every guest, this question could be answered differently. Since you were factoring in the PhotoPass cost, you would have to look at the $100 and see if that is worth the investment. If it saves your sanity and creates a better experience by not having to walk all over the park to grab FASTPASSES, for me, that’s worth it.

However, DAS (GAC) could negate all of this if you qualify for it. You can use DAS with Digital FASTPASS (Classic FASTPASS) and do quite well and save some money.

I’ll continue to visit the parks weekly updating everyone on how MaxPass is playing out so that you can make your decision.

Similar to the above question, we are considering using the regular fastpass (not maxpass,) but having 1 of our party of 5 purchase maxpass each of the 5 days solely for PhotoPass. This would $50, so lower than the week-long PhotoPass price. Any reason why this won’t work?

No reason! One person can purchase the MaxPass for PhotoPass benefits only. You’ll have everyone in your group included in photos around the parks, on attractions and at character meals. No prints included at the meals, but all digital images are.

Hi Casey,
We are a family of five visiting Disneyland for the first time soon. We are planning to use Maxpass. We have three daughter ages 11, 7, and 3. Should we get Maxpass for the three year old? She can’t ride many of the Fastpass rides.

I would so that you can all be consistent with FASTPASSES in general. Even though she won’t qualify for all the rides, you won’t want to not have her have the ability to pull a FASTPASS for a ride the whole family can enjoy together. That gets messy.

Can you please remind me…are FASTPASSES disconnected between parks, meaning you can hold one from each park? Also, any idea if MAXPASSES will be disconnected between parks? I could see the $10 being a better value if you can get a FASTPASS from each park through the app.

I’m not Casey, but I’ll answer in case Casey is swamped. The fastpass systems between the 2 parks are now connected so you can not for example get a FP for Space Mountain and then get one immediately after for Radiator Springs Racers in DCA- you’d have to wait till you use the SM fastpass or 2 hours, which ever comes first to get another fastpass whether in DL or DCA. This change happened a few months ago. Maxpass will work the same way.

For the part where you say to take a picture and use your pass as a screen saver to save time is against Disneyland policy and could get you in major trouble. Disney’s policy says only actual passes or the official Disneyland app can be used to scan and anything else is a violation of the policies. This has been verified by the Fresh Baked crew.

Digital FASTPASS question.
Going to Disneyland soon, and expecting baby #4. This is my second time scheduling it this way, but the benefit from last time was that my family always had extra FASTPASS tickets. For those whom it was their favorite ride could go twice, using my FASTPASS. How does the digital FAST PASS affect that, can others ride the rides I can’t with my park ticket/FAST PASS? Thank you so much for your help. Big fan recommend you website to everyone.

Hello Casey not sure if this been asked before, but is there any way to link my tickets (mine + 7 family members) to the App? They were purchased thru Disney website but im trying to do so and the app only gives me the option to link anual passes not regular tickets. Thanks for your help!

I have heard this will be possible. I haven’t tried it due to my only having annual passes, but I know it will be something you can do very soon if not already.

I hope to have a full post on how to use the app in the next month or so after many other projects on my list. I’ll do my best to update this post as soon as I know more. I appreciate your patience so much.

Hi Casey,
I used my app the whole time from the first loaded fastpass. It scans just fine, but it has to go onto the “ledge” at the bottom of the scanner device, whereas a ticket or pass can be up higher. And just like for scanning for parking passes, brightness must be all the way up. Try it that way next time!

Great info! In the past DCA and DL fastpass times were separate from each other. So if you could not get another fastpass in DL until 10 am you could go to DCA and get a fast pass because they were separate. Is this still the case with digital fastpass.

Can’t wait for the Fast passes to be available on the apps. My first thought of the $10 charge was ok but then it looks like they will be offering the photo pass with it. That is a deal maker. You can imagine the savings after you come off of one of the photo rides and not having to pay that price to get your photo online at home. I hope it’s up and running by the time I go in late July. Thanks.

So with the FASTPASS we have 2 adults, 1 child and a baby. If im correct only 1 adult needs a FASTPASS for example for Radiator Springs Racers and we can do the parent switch…and the child doesn’t need a fastpass also or he does? I don’t want to pull one Fastpass and then get told no we both can’t go. Thank you!

You only need one FASTPASS for each person per ride. The child swap return pass will cover the adult and child. Your child will need that first FASTPASS to ride, though. The return pass will cover the child, too.

Ive read all the tips but we are still confused about the FASTPASSES combined with rider swap. So we have 3 kids, two big ones (17 and 12) and one little guy 42″. Can we use rider swap with 3 FASTPASSES? So is it one rider stays on and the other gets out? Does it matter the age? I was thinking just send my older through on his FASTPASS and get two others and swap with the remaining two. Is this correct? Thank you for help

You can use one FASTPASS for 2 adults to ride the attraction with Rider Swap. Your whole group will go to the attraction together (so cast members can see the child who won’t be riding) and then one adult will board the attraction while the other stays behind with the child. At the time of boarding, the cast member will give the adult not riding the return pass to use later. Because of that, there’s no need for the 2nd adult riding to have a FASTPASS.

Regarding Maxx Pass: If our tickets are scanned into DLR, will we be able to get a Maxx Pass for a ride in DCA, or will we only be able to get Maxx Pass for rides in the park that we are scanned in for?

I know that it was once possible to obtain another fast pass after 2 hours had passed from getting a fast pass. For example, let’s say I get a pass at 8am for Space Mountain and my return window is 12pm – 1 pm, I would still be able to get a fast pass for Indiana Jones beginning at 10am because 2 hours had passed since I had gotten my first fast pass. Is this still correct or did this rule change in April?

Just wanted to say thank you so much for all the work you’ve put into this site. Your joy and enthusiasm for Disneyland and California Adventure is infectious. What a lovely thing you’re doing to allow all of us newbies a chance to give our kids, and ourselves, a magical experience. I went to Disneyland as a child every year (in the 70’s and 80’s), and loved it. My wife has never been, nor have my kids (6, 12, 13), and this will be my first trip back in about 20 years. So excited to share it with them. We have a 3 day SoCal pass so we’ll do DLR on Sat. with early entry, DCA on Sunday and DLR on Monday. I think I have a good idea about our plan, and feel confident we will have a great time. I just hope I’m prepared for the inevitable unexpected things that will pop up. I have so many questions (are you going this weekend?) lol
The one quick question that I can’t find an answer to here is about fastpass. I am printing out the tickets that I purchased online. When I watched the video of the fastpass machines it looked like an old fashioned ticket needed to be inserted to get the fastpass. Do the paper online printed tickets work? Or do I exchange those for others at the park?

The ticket print out that you have now will be exchanged at the turn stiles for actual Disneyland tickets. Everyone uses the same ticket, issued by Disney, in the FASTPASS machines. Disney will help you with this upon arrival.

I have a question about how MaxPass could impact our trip. Well be at DLR for 3 days in early June. I’m thinking MaxPass may be in effect by then possibly. My friend, who is a local, will be joining us at CA one of those days. If we choose to do MaxPass: Will it be possible to add her ticket to my app so that she can get fastpasses with us for that one day?

If we have 4 adults and a baby, can we use 2 tickets to get a Fastpass for one ride and then use the other 2 tickets to grab a Fastpass for another ride and use riderswitch for both rides? Or does all 4 adults need to grab a fast pass on order to get av rider switch? We went last year and got fast passes for all 4 of us for one ride, but the cast member only collected the 2 fast passes.

Another question, i read in anther comment that all ticket holders need to check in at the park to get a fastpass. Is this new? Last year, I stayed at Disneyland and sent my husband to grab 4 fastpasses to radiator springs…

No reason for you all to grab FASTPASSES. Split them up as you’re suggesting and get twice the attractions out of your time.

All guests have to have entered the park (meaning, their tickets have to be scanned as they go through the turn stiles) in order to pull FASTPASSES. You can send someone from one park to the other, as the parks to “speak” to each other in regards to FASTPASSES. But, guests have to have entered one of the parks in order for those tickets to pull FASTPASSES. So, you can’t leave part of your crew at the hotel to sleep while one person goes in. All guests have to be present.

Can I be in Disneyland Park and send my husband to California Adventure to obtain fastpasses?? Or do we all have to be in California Adventure to get the fastpasses? Also do you recommend we go to Disney California adventure on a day that does not have EMH if we do not have that feature?

Hi, Stacey. As long as your tickets are scanned as entered into one of the parks, you should be able to have someone leave one park and grab FASTPASSES in the other, as the systems within each park don’t “talk” to each other.

I recommend visiting the opposite park of whomever is hosting EMH if possible if you don’t have EMH.

It varies in each park and by each day. The more popular attractions won’t allow FASTPASSES during the early entry hour. Hyperspace Mountain, RSR, etc, won’t offer them. I have strategies for both parks on how to start your day with tips on early entry. Take a look:

Two questions.. I read your Frozen link for fastpasses too. I’m reading everything you are writing!!
1. CA–We don’t care about frozen (don’t have early entry but will get there early), but we want to ride RSR 2 or 3 times in 1 day. You mentioned getting FP for Soarin then FP for WOC then Ride Toy Story then get FP for RSR. Should I get in line for RSR FP’s FIRST instead of Soarin? I don’t think I understood why 🙂
2. DL–I have magic morning. No princesses. Should we register for Jedi training first during MM OR ride Hyperspace on standby as you suggested? Then should we get FP for Hyper or Star Tours? Are FP’s avail during magic mornings?
Thank you!!

1. Most people go right for RSR and it’s a zoo. I recommend Soarin’ instead because you will get a 2 hour wait time for RSR. With Soarin’, it will only be 45 minutes. So, get a few more things done after you pull Soarin’ passes……then return for it……THEN grab RSR. Use the single rider line for additional rides during your day. Also, I recommend Toy Story Mania super early because the line builds fast and is less than pleasant.

2. I would go for Hyperspace and then register. 1/2 the day’s participants will be signed up during Magic Morning. You should be fine getting in line after Hyperspace. Then, get a FASTPASS for Star Tours…..or send someone over to grab those while you’re registering at Jedi Training. You don’t need park tickets to register. Just be sure to have kiddo(s) there with you at registration. Many FASTPASSES are available during Magic Morning, but those for Hyperspace are not. The more popular rides do not distribute FASTPASSES during early entry so that all park guests have a fair shot at them during the regular park hours.

Hi, i have a question, im going on december 2 days with a 2 year old and a 5 year old.
Do i do first day only disneyland, and second day california adv?, or both each day?, (i bought 2 hopper tickets)
thank you in advance!!!

also, your big kids tour is for a 5 years old?, or should i only do your little kids tour? (hes 6 on february)
thanks!!!!!

So am i totally incorrect on how cold swap works then? I thought you get a pass, those riding first wait in line, then hand the pass over and the next group (limit two this time) can go through the fastpass line. Am i incorrect?? This is how I’ve always done it, but if there’s a much better way, I’d love to know!

Thank you, thank you for all the info! It made perfect research for our DL trip last month. I was the runner for Fast passes and here is what we did thanks to all your advice! After hitting up the Mad Hatter and all the Main Street characters, we made our way to Peter Pan’s Flight. I ran to get our Hyperspace Mountain FPs. After Peter Pan, we did Dumbo, Tea Cups, Mr. Toad, the carrousel and made our way to Tomorrow land. I grabbed Star Tours and Buzz Lightyear FPs. After Hyperspace Mountain, we went into Star Wars Launch Bay and met Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, and Boba Fett. We separated our group and half went to Finding Nemo Sub and half to the Matterhorn. After, I ran to grab Indiana Jones FPs. After Buzz and Star Tours, we went to our Aladdin Oasis reservations and I tried to grab Splash Mountain FPs but the ride got shut down for the day 🙁 but grabbed Big Thunder FPs instead. So after a long great lunch break, we rode Indiana Jones, Big Thunder, Haunted House, Winnie the Pooh, and Pirates of the Carribean. Thank GOD for the frozen lemonade! We were exhausted!! We made our way to It’s a Small World and the kids and some adults went to ToonTown to ride Roger Rabbit and others. By that time it was Parade time and fireworks. We made the most of our day thanks to you, we did it!! GOD bless you! 🙂

Awesome site! 2 nieces, 2 nephews and their moms visiting first week of August from Alabama and can’t wait to use your strategy. One day for both parks! A question about sending a runner to get FASTPASSES while others what in line for another ride. Will they allow the runner to catch up to the party in line? Or does the runner just miss out on that ride?

That’s tricky. Disney etiquette suggests no line jumping, but it doesn’t bother me for one person to catch up to his or her group. We’re all there to have fun and make the best use of our time, so I’m OK with it. I would try it out and see what your comfort level is and decide how to move forward with it after a few attempts. If you’re in my line, I’ll allow it. 🙂

Hi Casey! Thank you for all the tips. Your blog has been very helpful for us who are planning our first time in Disney. Just wondering if i understand it correctly, i can get a fastpass for WOC and Frozen at the same time and get another fastpass for another attraction? Since WOC and Frozen are both disconnected?

Hello Casey, I loved your website, I have a lot of experience in Orlando but haven’t been too many times to DL so I have a question for you.
I will be with a group of 52 teenagers and we plan to arrive at 7:45 at California Adventure on June 23 (park opens at 8am). Should I get a FP for Radiator Springs while the group heads to Soarin or should them do Radiator Springs first thing in the morning on stand by line while I get FP for the new Soarin?

If you are only interested in those two rides, I recommend you allow them to ride Soarin’ and get in line for RSR FASTPASSES. I would also arrive much, much earlier to the park – an hour prior to opening – or that standby line will be very long.

I want to thank you for this and every other post. I used DLR Prep School as a guidebook before our trip last year, and it made the park experience so much smoother and enjoyable. I’m looking forward to using your advice again this summer when we return. My colleague and I both turn to your site first for any questions when we plan our visits.

Hi there, We are headed to Disneyland this coming week, and we have been before and used fastpasses, but cant seem to figure out if the new Frozen at the Hyperion is a disconnected Fastpass, or if its the only one I can hold at the time.. Do you happen to know the answer to this, I know its a brand spankin new show… buuuut all the more reason why I DONT want to miss out on it! 🙂 TIA

I am a member of touring plans, and it is telling me NOT to get fast passes for RSR first…which I think is a mistake and according to you it is as well. However, I have never been to CA, so any suggestions?

We all have our different methods. RSR runs out so quickly and if you miss it because you’re pulling another FASTPASS that would interfere with the timing, you’ll regret it. I recommend taking care of that first.

I’ve read that all members of the party need to be in the park to get a fastpass; so you can’t send one person early in the morning to start getting all the passes for everyone.

I am wondering if this same issue happens between the parks. So if everyone enters Disneyworld we could start getting fastpasses there no problem… Would it then be possible to have just one person go to California adventure to get those fastpasses, or would everyone have to at least enter the California park (they wouldn’t be able to stay in the Disneyworld park)?

Good question. I have heard that you all have to physically enter the park in order for those FASTPASSES to be pulled. But since you are entering one Disney park, perhaps the other park would work. I’ll try to do this the next time I have my family here. Wish I knew exactly how to advise you now. I would definitely try this if I were you.

Hi guys. We have tried to take passes and crossover without the holders to get FPs and it does not work. Of a groups is all in DLR and one runner crosses over to get FPs for a ride such as Soarin’, it only works for the runners ticket. The others are still not ‘checked in’ to DCA.

Hi Casey.
We go to Disneyland in 8 days. Your blogs are saving my mind! We were there three years ago but only my husband and two youngest daughters are going this time. I have a few questions… I have read on other sites that you can get a free cup of ice water from any restaurant so that we could fill our water bottles throughout the day. Is that correct? What would be the first Fast pass to get in DLR? I can’t wait to read more of your awesome tips in the morning. I have been reading your blogs until 1am now!

The ice cups are a great idea. I want to share how much we love our Hydro Flasks. We always had some system of Frozen water bottles or ice cups. I have 7 Hydro Flasks that are amazing at keeping drinks cool. They are pricey but so great for DL. Living in Vegas I fill 2 or 3 while I work from my van. They keep water cold in a hot car in Vegas all day.

My parents and son and I are going to disneyland in June and definetely want to see World of a Color. I read your posts about getting the dining package with priority seating. My question for you is, Is the priority seating you get with the dining package the same seating you get grabbing a fast pass for Woc? Thanks! 🙂

It’s not. Within that post, you’ll find a map that details the locations for the FASTPASS viewing areas and then the dining locations, too. Typically, the dining spots are better, but you can make the FASTPASS one work. Try to grab a blue FASTPASS (ask the cast members what is being distributed when you arrive) and then go to the bridge to see the show. Here is the post again, for your reference: https://disneylanddaily.com/special-dining-events-with-reserved-seating-for-shows/

Hey I’m currently planning a trip for me and my boyfriend at the beginning of November. I’m searching around for ideas and tips for our first time at disneyland. We are going to get the California City Pass so we can visit other places as well. I want to utilize the fast pass option. Do you know anything about how to get a fast pass at disneyland with a city pass? I believe from my research it’s a plastic card. I’m unsure if that would allow us access to gaining fast passes like a normal disneyland ticket would. Thanks!!

FASTPASSES are available to all Disneyland guests with your paid park admission tickets. The City Pass is a separate option and unrelated. Check out my first timer’s post for some basic Disneyland info and let me know if you have any further questions: https://disneylanddaily.com/a-first-timers-guide-to-disneyland/

Hey there! I’m new at all of this, and am thankful for your tips! I’m a bit confused on 2 things in particular: 1) if we want to do rider swap, so both parents can ride RSR and my older son can ride 2 times, but my younger son is too short to stand in the line, how does the parent not waiting in line know when it’s their turn to ride? And 2) can you get a fastpass but also stand in line and ride it right then, then come back and ride it again during your fast pass time? One last thing I’d just like your opinion on-if we are staying at the hotel and can go in for the extra magic hour, that is the right choice, correct, instead of going to the opposite park, as it might be less crowded that day? Thanks so much!

You should be able to transfer the rider swap pass you will receive from one parent to the next after riding it for the first time. And FASTPASSES should work with this system. Definitely use the extra magic hour. If anything, go for that hour and then leave to go to the opposite park if it gets too crowded. But you will get so much done during that hour. Take advantage!

Hi. Thank you for all the great info. We are going to visit both parks next week. I’m so excited, it is our first family trip. My question is, will whichever park has the magic morning be the busier park for the day? I’m assuming the busier the park the faster they run out of fastpasses. Also, it may rain one of the days we are there. Which park is best for the rainy day, if it does indeed rain(it may just sprinkle though)?

Hi! We are a family of 5 with three kids aged 12,14 and 16 visiting for the first time. We only have one day to visit but which park is best? We like thrill rides but does DCA have the same charm as DL. Disney characters, fireworks etc? Can’t decide… Can you do both parks in one day? Help!!

Disneyland definitely holds more charm. But DCA has bigger kid rides. You can do both parks in one day, but it will be busy! Check out these touring plans. There is one “family for both parks” that will include everyone with alternative rides for younger kids nearby. Hope this helps! https://disneylanddaily.com/step-5-plan-park-touring/

Hey. Thanks for this site! I love the disconnected Buzz Lightyear fastpasses, and it really bugs me they don’t advertise it! We do fastpass and parent swap on every ride we can, it’s a shame more families don’t know about it. I rarely get hassled by cast members, and the friendlier you are the better. Talk to them, many are eager to share tips, advice, stickers whatever!

I thought I posted this comment yesterday but it doesn’t look like it took. Hopefully I’m not double posting.

Is BLAB still disconnected? My wife and I are visiting tomorrow through Wednesday and I’d hate to grab a fastpass to it only to find out that it’s not disconnected any more. My fear is that’d ‘waste’ a FP for me if that were the case as there are other rides that are a higher priority to get at DL.

Are the above disconnected rides still accurate? My wife and I are visiting for the first time in ages this coming weekend into next week and it’d be helpful to know before going and pulling a ride that we think is disconnected (such as BLAB) and finding that it really wasn’t.

Hello I was wondering if anyone has used the link above to buy discounted passes. I’m trying to be causious about ticket sites not owned by Disney such as the parksaver.com listed in this article? Thoughts/concerns! Thanks.

Anyone else is welcome to chime in. I have used them and only promote legitimate businesses. They are safe! Use code DLRPS by the end of February at that link for an extra $2 off each ticket. Those tickets will be good trough 2016. Enjoy!

One big tip to save. Buy Disney gift cards at Sam’s to save 5%. We just used this method to get annual passes for 5 and saved $225. We also get cards for all of our in-park spending to save an extra 5%.

Hi – I heard that the official Disney hotels in Disneyworld Florida have a 60 day pre-booking window for fast passes. We are going to Disneyland CA and haven’t booked our hotel yet. Is this the same for Disneyland?

FYI We just used rider swap on Radiator Springs Racers yesterday. When my husband and daughter went in, they gave him a lanyard to wear in line. Once he got up to the front, they traded the lanyard for a rider swap ticket good for up to 3 people to return.

on the first day of our Disney trip my son and I are going to go to early in the morning and my husband will meet us later in the afternoon/evening. Does anyone know if I could use his ticket to get a fast pass to WOC then meet him at the entrance with his ticket to get in?

We were just at DCA on New Year’s Day. RSR was allowing rider switch. They – and every FP ride we went on – allowed us to combine FP and Switch options, and only the people in the first group had to have FPs.

My boyfriend and I have 2 days at Disney in the 3rd week of Jan – 1 day at each park, however we will have one shorter day as we’re flying in and then heading straight to a park from LAX (possibly around noon-1pm) – which park would you suggest we should spend the shorter day at? I want to try and use as many fast passes as possible for shows & rides, but am worried about the day we arrive late.

Hello. Quic question.
My girlfriend and I both have APs. If she doesn’t come with me to Disnelyand, can I still use her AP to obtain a fastpass?
Since it isn’t a regular ticket but an AP, I was just wondering if I can use her AP with my AP to receive fastapasses. Thank you!

Hi Casey! I really love your website!
We, the family of 7, are heading to DSL for NYE. I have a 4 years old who is probably still too short to ride the most of height restricted ones. The last time we visited WDW (last year), I was able to break up into 2 groups and book different FastPass+ for rides that a little one couldn’t go on. For example, 1 group had splash mountain, dumbo, and big thunder mountain, and the other group had 7DMT, dumbo, and space mountain. We used FastPass+ for one group while the other group waited with a little one then used swap pass to go ride later that day.
I heard you can still do this at DSL. But I also heard the cast member was asking all group to have FastPass when you go to ask for a ride switch pass even though half of group won’t go in there right away.
Could you confirm if this technique is still available at DSL next time you visit there?
Thank you!
Kassidy

Taking my daughter to California Adventure in a few days. We are doing a character lunch but I am concerned about getting Anna and Elsa return ticket as well as FASTPASS for the sing a long. The concern being what do I do if the time conflicts with the character lunch time? Is there any way to avoid that?

If your character dining meal conflicts with the return time to see Anna and Elsa, simply bring your receipt to the meet-n-greet and they will work you in. They don’t offer FASTPASSES for the singalong anymore and they’re not needed, actually. You should be able to get into it at any time. Enjoy!

Thanks so much. Been using your website for a lot of planning 🙂 Good to know about the sing-a-long and also that I should just ask a cast member at the meet and greet if we get a conflict. They seem very accommodating from everything I’ve been reading.

I can’t tell you how much we appreciate your tips! We’ve been to Disneyworld and had the Fast Pass Bands because we stayed on the resort and it was super easy. I was concerned when I didn’t see this option at Disneyland, but am so glad you can get ticket Fast Passes! Are we limited to only 3 Fast Passes a day like at Disneyworld?

We are coming next week for two days (October 8-9) but heard the park is closing early on one of those days? Do you know anything about this? Also, do you suggest we start at California Adventure or Disneyland? Should we do 1 park/day passes or park hoppers? Our boys are 4 and 6, so just trying to make the most of our short visit. We will definitely be using your suggestions, so thank you so much!!

Hi, Monica. Thanks! You are not limited to three FASTPASSES and we don’t have the bands here at Disneyland. Be sure to review this post to know how to handle the FASTPASS system here since it’s quite different from WDW.

The park will close a few days a week right now for the Halloween Party. I would start at California Adventure on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and Disneyland on all the other days. That way you are avoiding the early entry crowd.

We are going to DL for the first time at the end of October. Rather than getting a day ticket we have opted for the Halloween Party tickets. My question is as we will have a wrist band rather than a park ticket I’m guessing that means we can’t use fast pass in the park?

Just wanted to add that single rider never guarantees a shorter wait time. There’s a strong possibility that the guest will be waiting as long or long than the posted wait time. Sometimes an attraction doesn’t have empty seats. I’ve had guests test this while one waited in the stand by queue and the other waited in the single rider line. The single rider waited an additional 20 minutes vs the stand by. Just a heads up. 🙂

I had an experience at WDW where the cast member in charge of the single rider line had NO IDEA how it was supposed to work. She did not add single riders in to fill up cars; instead she waited forever and then sent a whole group of single riders through. Needless to say, it took a long time to get through the line!

Kudos on a VERY helpful website.We (three adults) are planning a trip to DLR and DCA for early October 2015, and I have some quick questions. A. What days do you think we should go that you believe would be less crowded? B. Is it better to get a 3-Day Park Hopper, or a 4-Day Single Park ticket? C. Is it better to get a FASTPASS for Fantasmic or a Dinner w/a FASPASS for Fanstasmic, we saw that they offer a 59.99 dinner that guarantees a great spot for Fantasmic, is it worth it? D. Lastly, do you have any itineraries for adults only?

I have a question about the rider swap pass…I have a 5, 7, and 9-year-old…Are we allowed to get swap passes if the whole family isn’t waiting in line? My daughter will not be tall enough to wait in line for the ride, but me and my husband will want to ride with the older two…So if my oldest rides with my husband, can he get a swap pass for me and my other son if we are waiting outside? Thanks!

We used to use (and abuse) the Switch pass system. Sometimes CMs only give you a switch pass if you can show them the little one who can’t ride. In other words, getting a switch pass for RSR for your wife and kids who are currently on another ride will not work if CMs are following guidelines.

Also, you can get a switch pass if there is any child not going at any age or size if the parent deems they need supervision.

Hi, such great tips! I have a question about the rider switch – my family will be going to Disneyland on Friday, and we’re all adults but we just found out my sister is pregnant so she won’t be able to ride some of the bumpier rides. Will a rider switch only be available with children, or can you also request them with expectant mothers so someone can sit out with her but still get to ride? Thanks!

Two questions. Does storytelling at Royal Theatre have a fastpass and how does it work?
Also, now that Olaf isn’t on a fastpass, what’s your recommendation on seeing him and balancing fp pickup for racers?

The Royal Theatre does have a FASTPASS and it’s required to watch the show. Find these at the hub, where the Mickey and Walt statue is in the middle of the park. Grab FASTPASSES for your entire party. They are disconnected, so you’ll be able to grab other passes, too.

Review this post for Olaf, Anna and Elsa if you’re interested, and RSR, plus World of Color, too:

I heard that with the FastPass return of Buzz Lighter, it is no longer connected to the network. Which means I can get another FastPass after Buzz without having to wait. Is this true? Are their other rides that are not in the network, ie: Roger Rabbit, Grizzly River Run?

Buzz is not connected. Mostly, it’s just shows and meet-n-greets that are not connected. Not Roger Rabbit or Grizzly River Run. Those are connected. Anna and Elsa, World of Color, Fantasmic!, the Frozen Show in Disneyland, etc…….all disconnected.

We are headed to California Adventure next Saturday and plan to be there well before the rope drop. Is it still recommended to get Anna & Elsa fastpasses first, followed immediately by Radiator Springs? If so, how fast does the Anna & Elsa line move? We are worried about getting fastpasses for both.

Thank you for the wonderful website and tips. I read older articles stating that certain rides (buzz light year astro blaster and radiator springs fast pass systems are independent from the overall fast past system) similar to the firework show fastpass. Is this still true?

Question about Fastpasses for Anna & Elsa’s Royal Welcome. My 6 year old daughter is getting the Anna makeover at Anna & Elsa’s Boutique at 10:30am (the earliest we could get it) and then we wanted to meet Anna and Elsa later in the day. The park is scheduled to open at 10am that day. What would be your recommended strategy for getting the “return ticket” for the character greeting? Go in at park opening and get the FASTPASS first, then go to the Boutique, and hope the return ticket is scheduled for later enough in the day so we will be able to make it there? Or (while I’m at the boutique with my daughter) send my husband to get the “return ticket” using his park ticket, along with my two sons’ tickets? That way we would have three return tickets that we could use (my mom, myself, and my daughter want to go meet Anna & Elsa). Can the return tickets be transferred to a different person or are they linked to the specific park ticket?

Good question. I often recommend doing the makeover the night before so that you don’t run into this issue with timing, but if your appt is set, I think your plan to send your husband over with the boys tickets is a good idea. Make sue everyone’s tickets are scanned for entry that day, of course. FASTPASSES “or return tickets” are transferable.

Hi Casey, Your website is such a wonderfully thorough collection of advice and plans to help us all have a wonderful trip! It’s been a few years since we’ve been to Disneyland and we usually just enjoy the rides as we go, but sounds like having a plan, including which/when to get Fast Passes is really important these days. I do have one suggestion for you: when adding links to your site, you might want to have them open in a new tab. Once I started clicking from one page to the next to the next, it took me a bit to get back to your home page, which I didn’t want to lose! You know how it is once you get clicking! Thank you so much for sharing this greatly appreciated information!

Thank you so much for this info! It has been a bit overwhelming planning for our first family vacation to Disney for my daughter’s 9th birthday. We are planning on going to both parks but bought single day tickets. Do you have any tips or itinerary ideas? Our game plan so far was doing 1 park first day, 1 park second day, and then deciding what to do with the next. I am a bit nervous about the whole fast pass system, and was also wondering if you would recommend purchasing the dining/fast pass combos for World of Color and Fantasmic. They seem pricy, but we don’t want to miss either one. Do you think just getting a fast pass will work? Thank you again and sorry for so any questions from this newbie!

Thank you so much for providing useful info re: Disney Resort! I read your Fasspass guide and I’d like to get your insight. We (two adults) are going to do park hopping and will get there before the rope drop (or whatever it’s called). We want to do both RSR and WOC fastpasses. I know WOC is independent from other fastpasses but which line should we line up first? I could go to WOC with two passes and have my husband line up for RSR but not sure which line would be shorter in general. Any insight will be appreciated!

I’m planning on going to either disneyland or California adventure but I’m having trouble deciding due to my son probably not being any requirements for the rides at CAL ADV, he’s 3 yrs old… are there many rides at all he’d be able to get on??

Hi, Casey! I just discovered your site, and as a Disney fan, I’m loving it! I just was wondering if your list of fastpass attractions is current or not. I was just in Disneyland a couple weeks ago and know both Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean offer fastpasses. I want to say It’s A Small World does too, but that might only be at WDW, not at DLR. Anyways, thank you for running such an awesome site!

Haunted Mansion is doing passes temporarily – I believe due to the Hatbox Ghost excitement. I had not noticed Pirates. Will look the next time I’m there – in just a few days. I’ll look for Small World, too. Thanks for the tips!

They recently added Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and Haunted Mansion has a semi-permanent FASTPASS now. But, nothing yet for Pirates or it’s a small world. I’ll update this post as I see such. Thanks!

My family has annual passes and though we have always avoided the summer months in past years we did go last week to the parks for my son’s birthday. When getting fast passes for Indiana Jones I received a great surprise of a bonus fast pass to Buzz Lightyears Astro Blasters good for up to 6 people. The day before we were asked as a party of 3 if we wanted to join another family of 3 on their 6 person bonus fast pass. It was such a pleasure to have that to offer someone else ourselves. We invited a mom and 2 kids from Chile who were waiting at the end of a 50 minute line. The kids just didn’t believe it. Not only is this a great idea meant to celebrate the 60th Anniversary it really generates sharing and kindness for people to reach out to others with smaller parties. Another great reason to love Disneyland!

Thank you for all the wonderful information on your website. We are going to Disneyland in less than week and getting really excited! We will be able to enter Disneyland park early one day during Magic Morning hours. I’m curious as to when Fast Passes can be pulled. Are Fast Passes for all rides available during the early opening hour or only after the park opens?

You’re welcome! Most passes are available during early entry, however, I have heard lately that they’re not as available…..perhaps because of the summer crowds. If that is the case, ride as much as you can and then get in line closer to official opening for the passes you want. Enjoy!

We are going to disneyland next month. We have 3 kids, 2 of which are top little to ride some attractions. There are some sites that say that we can use Fastpass in conjuntion to Rider Swap. Saying that we could pull enough fastpasses for the first set of riders then ask for a rider swap for the others (up to 3 I think) to go through that way after the first set rides. Then the group that isn’t pullong fastpassed for that ride could pull fastpasses for another ride and then use ride swap on that ride as well. Can you say whether this would work or not.

I’ve heard that this both works and does not. Rider Swap was created to keep people from standing in line twice…..FASTPASS was created to cut down on line time, too. Some cast members will let them work together. Some won’t. If I find out anymore information on this, I’ll get back to you asap!

Hi! Is it absolutely necessary to get the fast passes for the nighttime shows? It will be my first time at Disneyland and I want to be able to see everything during fantastic and world of color, but I also do not want to run to a fast pass machine at rope drop, I want to enjoy seeing the park for the first time. How much time would we have to make our way to get the fast pass?

I discovered your website today, and I love it! I’ve been to Disneyland many times, but I still enjoy reading tips/tricks and ideas. I did want to say that they will not allow children not tall enough to ride in the lines. You mention on rider swapping that everyone stands in the line, but that is not true at Disneyland. You have to get a swap pass instead. This is actually nice as some times the lines can be scary (like Indiana Jones), and also it allows the non-riders to go do something else like have a snack or experience an age appropriate attraction.

Also, I wish your site had a list of articles. I have clicked on several links within articles, but it would be easier if there was a way to see all the information available on the site.

Thank you so much for the detailed information on your website, it was by far the most helpful in my pre-travel research. My family and I just arrived back in Europe from a California vacation that included a highly anticipated visit to Disneyland Anaheim. My son (3) is a huge Cars fan and my daughter (6) loves the Frozen movie, so we decided to go to the California Adventure park. Thanks to you, I knew exactly what to do upon arrival: Get the return tickets for the Anna&Elsa Meet&Greet and the Fastpast tickets for the radiator springs racers. It worked out beautifully and the kids had a blast. My husband and I enjoyed the surprisingly stress-free visit and the short waiting times! Without your wonderful Disneyland preparation page we would have wandered aimlessly about, spent long times in line and probably missed out on both of these highlights that were once-in-a-lifetime for our kids. Grateful greetings from Germany, Anne

Just wanted to thank you for the outstanding information you have provided on this blog. This was my first time at Disneyland and got to enjoy this with my wife and two kiddos. Your fastpass guide and info on child swap was amazing and allowed us to pretty much ride everything our hearts desired and got to watch both Funtastic! and World of Color with an amazing view! Thank you so much and can’t wait to come back to experience the Magic that is Disney once again!!!

Hello. I have a question regarding parkhopping for fastpasses. Can my family stay in Disneyland while I take all of our parkhopper tickets to California Adventure to get fastpasses for RSR? Hope that makes sense.

Good question, Micah. The theme park tickets must be scanned for entry in order to use them at the beginning of the day. Let me check this Friday at my visit for re-visting the parks without your actual family and with tickets only. I’ll reply back to this comment after I find out. Want to make sure I’m correct in my answer.

Micah! I’m so sorry. I thought for sure I had replied to you on this again.

The answer is no. The park tickets must be scanned for entry (even on subsequent visits) in order to pull FASTPASSES, therefore, the family would have to be in the park in order to get tickets. Does that make sense?

I just did this with 14 passes – my group was in DL and I took everyone’s tickets and ran over to CA Adv to get RSR fast passes – no problem. My ticket was the only one scanned for admission, but I got a FP for everyone.

I was wondering this same thing. Casey, have you tried this again since Coralyn posted her comment? We’re using our Magic Morning at DL on our first day in the parks (Tues.), and plan to start the rest of our days in whichever park does not offer early entry to resort guests. That means we won’t start the day in DCA until Thurs. I have a feeling if we don’t park hop by 10 am on Tues. or Wed., then RSR fast passes will be gone by the time we cross over. What do you think? (BTW, there are 8 of us. We’ve got 5 day hoppers and will be in the parks Tues.-Thurs., Sat. & Sun. taking Fri. off to rest and catch our breath.) Also, so much has changed since our last visit in 2013, especially with Fantasmic! offering FP. We used to stake out a spot and sit for an hour waiting for the show. Are all the spots by the water reserved for FP seating now? Thanks for taking the time to answer everyone’s questions. I really appreciate getting the insider view as it’s often hard to get these answers via Disney.

Absolutely grab FASTPASSES for reserved seating for Fantasmic! In fact, take a look at this post from my Facebook page for 2 strategies – one which includes one for seeing Fantasmic!, the fireworks and the parade all in one night with a small amount of wait time.

Regarding, RSR FASTPASSES and hopping, you might want to send someone over with everyone’s tickets to see if he or she can pull RSR FASTPASSES without everyone being present in the park. Disney insists that you have to be in that park to pull passes, but I’ve had several readers that have made it work without that recently. If that’s not an option, you might make it by 10am. Otherwise, Single Rider might be your best bet to avoid a huge wait.

I just had one of the worst and most expensive days of my life at California Adventure. No where in the park are clear instructions about the fast passes given. Disney’s own website makes it sound as if those purchasing regular admission for the day are not eligible. After spending $300 just to be there, my daughter and I only managed to ride 4 rides in an entire day there, and walked out after discovering the “24” minute (listed) wait for Radiator Springs Racers was actually going to be 4 hours!!! We found this out from the cast member who refused to allow the “standby” line to increment at all as Fast Pass holders from all over the park swarmed the ride. We paid hundreds of dollars to stand in the hot sun for hours, only to be considered “standby” by your “cast members”? Very interesting terminology here showing who Disneyland values (their employees who are now put on a pedestal as “actors”), and who they don’t (Joe Q Public who pays a normal fare to stand in the hot sun for hours-only to be corralled and ignored for hours as “Standby” while other more elite people who have not waited at all march right onto the ride)? Pardon my run on here but Walt would be spinning in his grave if he found out how twisted his vision of the happiest place on earth had become! The whole fastpass elitist discrimination needs to be shut down!!!

I’m so sorry you had a bad experience. I hope my guide will help should you decide to try again with Disneyland or California Adventure. Can you let me know how I could be clearer in my post? Or can you recommend what information could have made your day run smoother? Happy to help in any way I can.

FYI children under 3 will need a pass to see Elsa and Anna. We were not told this when my husband got passes for the rest of our group and when the 8 of us walked up at our designated time they refused to let all of us in bc we only had 6 passes. How they expected us to get passes for our two little ones (under 2 years old) when they didn’t have park tickets to begin with is beyond me. It was mainly just one woman on a power trip refusing to let us all in.

Jennifer, I spoke to several cast members last night about your situation and they were surprised. You should have absolutely been allowed to bring children in without FASTPASSES. I’m so sorry this happened.

I have a question about using the rider swap versus the single rider line. I have a 5 year old and there are some rides she will not want to ride, but her father and I will both want to ride. Would we be better off utilizing the rider swap or the single rider line? Or is it possible to implement both?

You can’t utilize both in the single rider line, unfortunately. I do recommend it over FASTPASSES and other options on most attractions. However, Rider Swap will work best where the single rider option is not available.

My husband and I are headed up to Disneyland for a date on Thursday. We’ve never seen World of Color and are so glad it’s finally open! When should we get fast passes for he show? We’ll be there most of the day.